Republic of Taiwan (1895)

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This historical republic should not be confused with the proposed nation-state, "Republic of Taiwan."

台灣民主國 Republic of Formosa Unrecognized state ← 1895 → Flag Seal of the Republic Territory of the Republic of Formosa in 1895, prior to the Japanese invasion Capital Taipei (Moved to Tainan) Language(s) Mandarin, Hoklo, Hakka Government Republic President  - May 1895 - June 1895 Tang Ching-sung  - June 1895 - Oct. 1895 Liu Yung-fu (de facto) Historical era New Imperialism  - Declared May 24, 1895  - Conquered October 23, 1895 Population  - 1895 est. 2,980,000  Currency Qing Tael

The Republic of Taiwan (traditional Chinese: 臺灣民主國; simplified Chinese: 台湾民主国; pinyin: Táiwān Mínzhǔguó; lit. "Democratic State of Taiwan"; official English name: Formosan Republic, Taiwan Republic; also called Republic of Formosa) was a short-lived republic that existed on the island of Taiwan in 1895, between the formal cession of Taiwan by the Qing Dynasty to the Empire of Japan by the Treaty of Shimonoseki and the arrival of Japanese troops and assumption of Japanese sovereignty. Though sometimes claimed by certain historians or politicians as the first Asian republic to have been proclaimed, it was predated by the Lanfang Republic, which had been established in 1777.

The republic was proclaimed by a group of pro-Qing high officials and members of the local gentry in order to, it was hoped, prevent Japanese acquisition of Taiwan which China had just ceded to Japan under the Treaty of Shimonoseki. Many of these officials fled the island upon Japan's invasion. On May 24, 1895 an English translation of its declaration of independence was sent to all the embassies on the island, followed by a ceremony the next day. It managed to issue stamps under the auspices of the republic. From the onset, the founders of the republic made it clear that their actions were out of loyalty to the Qing and declared themselves to be tributaries of the Qing state.

In spite of the similarity in name, modern-day proponents of a "Republic of Taiwan" (as part of the Taiwan independence movement) tend to disavow a connection between the two, thus neither claiming a revival of that entity nor regarding themselves as political offspring of that movement. The reason for this is that the first Republic of Taiwan was created as an act of loyalty to a government of China while modern supporters of the Republic of Taiwan tend to wish to distance themselves from China.

[edit] Presidents of the Taiwan Republic

• Tang Ching-sung (May 25, 1895 – June 5, 1895)
• Liu Yung-fu (June 5, 1895 – October 21, 1895)

[edit] See also

• History of Taiwan
• Japanese Invasion of Taiwan (1895)
• Gotō Shinpei

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