Hostage in Taipei: A True Story of Forgiveness and Hope

By McGill Alexander

Book Overview

Readers interested in world events, true-experience thrillers, and amazing answers to prayer will enjoy this book.

This true story was produced as a docu-drama by National Geographic Channel and broadcast in their Locked-Up Abroad Series.

A South African diplomat family were taken hostage by a ruthless and notorious killer in Taiwan. In the chaos of media frenzy and gun battles with police the Alexanders' lives were endangered, their faith and love put to the test, and miracles occurred. The Alexander family witnessed for Christ before TV cameras, news media, and throngs of people in a non-Christian nation eager to hear how anyone could show forgiveness toward a killer who had mercilessly harmed them and terrorized the entire island. This event, which occurred in 1997, had huge media coverage and still connects with readers concerned about terrorism in our world today.

In 1997, the family of South African diplomat McGill Alexander were taken hostage by Taiwan's most-wanted and feared criminal, Chen Chin-hsing. The family were held at gunpoint, used as human shields in gun battle with the police, and seriously wounded in the crossfire. Demanding justice for his imprisoned wife, Chen threatened to commit suicide once his mission was accomplished. Besieged by media and police, confusion ensued; but several heroes rose above the danger. Ann Alexander visited Chen Chin-hsing in prison, and before his execution, he converted to faith in Christ. The Alexander's showed the world a stunning example of forgiveness in the midst of violence and revenge.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0967038626
• ISBN13: 9780967038629
• Release Date: December 2000
• Publisher: Cladach Publishing
• Length: 312 Pages
• Weight: 1.04 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.6" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Truly inspiring!

This book is truly inspiring. I was raised in Taiwan and was a student at the Taipei American School, which Christine Alexander also attended. I remember the lengths the school and the government went to to ensure our safety, and I remember watching news about Chen Chin-hsing on television. Reading this book, however, brought the situation in a different light. Chen put through the family through numerous horrifying incidents, yet they forgave him, which they attributed to their strong Christian faith. This book is a wonderful example of forgiveness and courage.

Alexander is simply unbelievably amazing!

The year was 1997, when the most wanted-criminal of Taiwan, Chen Chin-hsing took hostages of Mac Alexander, a South African diplomat (also the author of the book, and his family of three). The gunman wounded Mac and one of his daughters during a shootout with the police, and the other family members who fortunately remained unharmed physically suffered from the mental torture during the hours that felt like millennia. Chen, the vicious criminal, however, was completely taken back by the unusually calm attitude of the Christian family members. Especially the diplomat's wife, Anne, whose easy tone on a phone call made during the hostage taking failed to convince her listeners that there was a bandit holding a gun sitting next to her. Their twelve-year old daughter, Christine, on the other hand, became an overnight heroine after it was made known to the whole country that she had refused to escape when she had the chance, because she wanted to protect her mother. The family accounted their bravery to their strong Christian faith. Chen was deeply touched by this unforgettable drama. He was never the same person again after the police escorted him out of the Alexanders' household. Alexander's book reads like a fast-paced documentary replete with action and surprises, like those produced by any seasoned writers. But it also gives you a good overview of the island country of Taiwan, its social customer and the nature of its political components. I couldn't believe how much Alexander knows about the country in which he resided only for a few years. This book is definitely one of the best I have ever read. Although it emphasizes heavily on the Christian faith, it is absolutely suitable for any believers as well as non-believers. This book might convert you, though. So read it now and find out!

Outstanding!

This book is riveting! Once you pick it up, you will not want to put it down. It has a powerful testimony and Mac Alexander is a master storyteller! He gives good background leading up to the time he and his family are held hostage and makes you feel as though you are right there with his family during the ordeal. He also gives a good account of events following this time of crisis. We now live in Taipei and have been able to talk to people who lived here during that time who say that the author really captures the feeling of the people of Taiwan while Chen Chin-hsing was at large. It is a story of great courage and love in the face of a terrifying situation. An excellent book!