Faina Chiang, the shy Russian-born wife of former Taiwanese leader Chiang Ching-kuo, died on Wednesday at age 88, local media reported.

Faina Chiang, who was suffering from asthma, died at the Veterans' General Hospital in Taipei, the Central News Agency reported. Cable TV stations showed political leaders going to the hospital to pay their respects.

The widow -- also known by her Chinese name Chiang Fang-liang -- was seriously ill for years and used a wheelchair during her rare public appearances.

She met her husband while he was in the Soviet Union in the 1930s. When she was 22, she joined her husband as he returned to China.

Taiwanese media reported Faina Chiang was 90 because according to the local age-counting system, a person is already 1 year old at birth and becomes 2 after the next Chinese Lunar New Year.

Source: agencies