 From 1949 to 1987, the Kuomintang ruled Taiwan under martial law hostile to the Communist mainland  , before Chiang Ching-kuo  lifted authoritarian restrictions and initiated democratic reforms in the late 1980s.
<meaning-changed>  From 1949 to 1987, the Kuomintang ruled Taiwan under martial law hostile to the Communist mainland  , before Chiang Ching-kuo  lifted authoritarian restrictions and initiated democratic reforms in the late 1980s.
 From 1949 to 1987, the Kuomintang ruled Taiwan under martial law hostile to the Communist mainland for nearly 40 years , before Chiang Ching-kuo lifted authoritarian restrictions and initiated democratic reforms in the late 1980s.