Chiang Kai-shek (October 31, 1887 - April 5, 1975) was a Chinese political and military leader who served as the leader of the Republic of China between 1928-75. He served as Chairman of the National Military Council of the Nationalist government of the ROC from 1928-48. Chiang led China in the Second Sino-Japanese War (the Chinese theater of WWII), consolidating power from the party's former regional warlords. A major split between the Nationalists and Communists occurred in 1927; and, under his leadership, the Nationalists fought a nationwide civil war against the Communists. In 1949 Chiang's government and army retreated to Taiwan, where he imposed martial law and persecuted people critical of his rule in a period known as the "White Terror". After evacuating to Taiwan, his government continued to declare its intention to retake mainland China. Chiang ruled the island securely as President of the Republic of China and General of the Kuomintang until his death in 1975 at the age of 87. His legacy has been the target of heated debates because of the different views held about him. In the United States and Europe, Chiang was often perceived negatively as the one who lost China to the Communists.