Chang An-lo

Chang An-le (Chinese: 張安樂; pinyin: Zhāng Ānlè, 12 March 1948), also known as the White Wolf (白狼; Bái Láng), is a Taiwanese Chinese ultra-nationalist, organized crime figure, entrepreneur, and politician. He is supportive of Chinese unification, having founded the Chinese Unification Promotion Party.

Chang An-le
張安樂
Chang An-le in April 2017
Born	March 12, 1948 Nanjing, Jiangsu
Nationality	Taiwanese
Other names	The White Wolf
Alma mater	Tamkang University Stanford University
Political party	Chinese Unification Promotion Party

Work with the Triad

A reputed former leader of the Bamboo Union crime brotherhood,[1] Chang fled Taiwan in 1996 after being placed on the wanted list by authorities in Taipei for involvement in organised crime,[2] leading him to live in exile in Shenzhen, People's Republic of China.[3][4][5] Chang is credited with giving the Bamboo Union a political mission and a touch of romantic character which has made it more appealing to gain members from rival criminal gangs.[6]

During his time in China, the Chinese Unity Promotion Party was founded in 2004. He then started a Taiwan-based branch of the party in 2005.[7] He returned to Taiwan in June 2013 and was arrested by Taiwanese police on arrival at Songshan Airport and released on bail.[4] President Ma Ying-jeou received criticism for his lax treatment of Chang.[5]

Political career

Upon his return to Taiwan, Chang opened a campaign headquarters affiliated with the "Chinese Unification Promotion Party" in downtown Tainan in order to prepare for elections in 2016.[8]

Following a police raid of one of the party's headquarters in November 2013, police stated their concerns about the political party's links to organized crime to the press.[9] Police alleged that the political party was being used as a front for membership in the Bamboo Union gang in New Taipei City; police also allege that illegal firearms had been trafficked and used in racketeering and turf war by the Yeh Shih branch (named after historical figure Ye Shi).

In 2013, his party claims that it has a membership of 20,000 persons, and 75 branch-offices (or headquarters).[10]

In one notable protest in February 2019, Chang tripped and stumbled into his own prop coffin that he had brought to symbolise Taiwanese fatalities that would result from resistance to invasion from the PRC.[11] In August 2019, Chang was arrested by Taiwanese police and prosecutors charged him and five party workers with taking illicit political donations, embezzlement, and tax evasion.[12]

Notes

1. Arax, Mark (1985-09-19). "Reputed Gang Chief Charged in Liu Killing". Los Angeles Times.
2. "Chang An-lo" (in Chinese). Criminal Investigation Bureau. Archived from the original on 2009-03-26. Retrieved 2010-03-07.
3. Chin (2003), p. 205.
4. Taiwan gang leader 'White Wolf' arrested after China exile, Herald Sun, 2013-06-30, retrieved 2013-06-30
5. Cole, J. Michael. "The Return of Gangster Politics in Taiwan". thediplomat.com. The Diplomat. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
6. Xia, Yun. "The White Wolf of Taiwan". thediplomat.com. The Diplomat. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
7. Hsiao, Alison (5 March 2017). "Reporter's Notebook: Survivors of 228 Incident divided along ethnic lines". Taipei Times. p. 3. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
8. Tseng, Wei-chen; Chung, Jake (9 September 2013). "'White Wolf's' party to contest in 2016 elections". Taipei Times. p. 3. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
9. Cheng, Shu-ting; Chung, Jake (November 8, 2013). "Police link party to organized crime". Taipei Times. p. 3. Retrieved April 2, 2014.
10. 張安樂29日返台：我沒有犯罪 (in Chinese). Central News Agency. June 28, 2013. Archived from the original on July 1, 2013. Retrieved April 2, 2014. 中華統一促進黨有75個黨部，黨員2萬餘人
11. Pan, Jason. "White Wolf' falls onto coffin; CUPP protesters detained". www.taipeitimes.com. Taipei Times. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
12. Pan, Jason. "Prosecutors charge 'White Wolf,' other CUPP members with illegal gains". www.taipeitimes.com. Taipei Times. Retrieved 13 August 2019.

References

• Chin, Ko-lin (2003). Heijin: Organized Crime, Business, and Politics in Taiwan. Armonk, N.Y.: M.E. Sharpe. ISBN 0-7656-1220-8.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)