Chiang, Faina (1916–2004)

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Chiang, Faina (1916–2004)

First lady of Taiwan. Name variations: Chiang Fang-liang. Born Faina Vakhreva, May 15, 1916, in the Urals city of Sverdlovks, Russia; died Dec 15, 2004, in Taipei, Taiwan; orphaned at a young age and raised by her sister; m. Chiang Ching-kuo (president of Taiwan and son of Chiang Kai-shek), 1935; daughter-in-law of Song Meiling; children: 3 sons, Alan (d. 1989), Hsiao-wu (d. 1991), and Hsiao-yung (d. 1996); daughter Chiang Hsiao-chang.

Met husband while he was in the Soviet Union (1933); returned with him to China (1937); fled to Taiwan with husband and the Nationalists (late 1940s); was first lady of Taiwan (1978–88).