Taiwan tells its people to shun Chinese anniversary events for revolutionary hero
China announced last year that it would commemorate the 160th birth anniversary of Sun Yat-sen on Nov 12, honouring his role in the 1911 revolution that ended centuries of imperial rule.
Taiwan's government is urging its citizens to avoid participating in China's upcoming anniversary events commemorating Sun Yat-sen, a revolutionary hero revered by both nations. This directive comes after China announced its plans to hold celebrations on November 12th, marking the 160th birthday of the man who helped lead the 1911 revolution that ended imperial rule, ultimately establishing the Republic of China, which later fled to Taiwan in 1949.
Sun Yat-sen, who was born in 1866, is officially recognized as the "father of the nation" in Taiwan, with his portrait displayed in the presidential office. However, his political philosophy is no longer taught in schools. In contrast, China views Sun as a great national hero and patriot, as well as the precursor to China's 1949 revolution.
Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council issued a statement on Thursday, advising people to refrain from attending events in China to avoid echoing the narratives presented by the Chinese communists. The council highlighted that China's interpretation of Sun does not align with historical facts and uses these commemorations to promote a narrative opposing Taiwan's independence and advocating for unification.
China's Taiwan Affairs Office did not respond to requests for comment on the government's plans for the anniversary celebrations. Beijing maintains that Sun is a great national hero and patriot, along with being the forerunner of China's 1949 revolution. However, China has not provided details about the specific events it will hold next month.
In 2016, Chinese President Xi Jinping stated that Sun opposed attempts to split the country and emphasized the importance of complete reunification as a sacred duty for all Chinese. Meanwhile, in Taiwan, President Lai Ching-te and his ruling Democratic Progressive Party advocate for Taiwan's separate identity from China, adopting a tougher stance with Beijing regarding the Republic of China's role in World War Two and the involvement of the People's Republic of China during that period.
Written by urgent.news from Free Malaysia Today's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
