TAIPEI (AFP) -- The Taiwanese government's steps to remove hundreds of statues of late Nationalist leader Chiang Kai-shek from all military premises sparked strong criticism from the opposition Tuesday.

The leading opposition Kuomintang (Nationalist Party, or KMT) denounced the controversial move, saying it was part of efforts from the pro-independence government to cut off the island's Chinese roots.

"Like him or not, Chiang is part of Taiwan's history," said Tseng Yung-chuan, legislator for the KMT, which Chiang led. "And we strongly oppose this as it is intended to unilaterally change history."

However, lawmakers from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) insisted that the statues were symbols of Chiang's authoritarian rule and must be removed as Taiwan had become a democratic country.

Chiang fled to Taiwan from the Chinese mainland in 1949 after his Nationalist troops were defeated in a civil war by the communist forces led by Mao Zedong.

Chiang died in 1975 after ruling the island for 26 years. His son Chiang Ching-kuo became president in 1978 and died in 1988.

The KMT's 51-year grip on power ended when the party lost the 2000 presidential elections to the DPP.

The Military Police Headquarters in Taipei Monday removed Chiang's statue from its complex, replacing it with a mascot for the forces.

A group of DPP legislators also vowed Monday to push for a name change for Taipei's Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, a popular sightseeing spot.

The DPP government in September dropped "Chiang Kai-shek" from the name of the island's major airport and renamed it Taoyuan International Airport.

KMT politicians said the DPP hoped to win support from independence-minded voters by whipping up anti-Chinese sentiment ahead of parliamentary polls later this year and the 2008 presidential election.

Defense minister Lee Jye denied reports that he had taken the initiative for the move to scrap the statues.

"The ruling party wants me to do so but the opposition is against it. It's difficult for me," Lee told reporters. "The statues are not destroyed but temporarily removed indoors for storage ... they could be reinstated if the opposition regains power and gives such order."