Taiwan tells its people to shun Chinese anniversary events for revolutionary hero

Taiwan's government has advised its citizens to avoid attending events in mainland China scheduled for next month to mark the 160th birthday of Sun Yat-sen. This comes as China prepares to hold commemorations on November 12 to celebrate the revolutionary hero's birth. Sun Yat-sen, who played a key role in overthrowing China's last imperial dynasty in 1911 and founded the Republic of China, whose government fled to Taiwan in 1949, is revered in both Beijing and Taipei.

However, Beijing has not renounced using force to reunify Taiwan under its control. Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council warned that participating in these events would be seen as endorsing China's narrative of opposing Taiwan's independence and promoting unification. China's Taiwan Affairs Office did not comment on the matter. In 2016, President Xi Jinping emphasized the importance of complete reunification, stating it was a sacred duty for all Chinese.

While Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te and his ruling party emphasize Taiwan's distinct identity, they have taken a more assertive stance with Beijing regarding historical issues such as World War Two.