tzu-chiang was so-named from a phrase in an address that chiang kai-shek, the former president of republic of china (taiwan), delivered to his countrymen on 26 october 1971 in response to united nations resolution 2758, in which he urged the country to ""respect the homeland, strengthen self ("tzu-chiang"); respond to change without fear."" u.n. resolution 2758 formally recognised beijing as the government of "china" and de-recognized taipei, at the same time revoking taipei's u.n. membership. for this reason, the "tzu-chiang" is also sometimes referred to as the "self-strengthening express".