What is the Republic of Taiwan?
Q: What is the Republic of Taiwan?
A: The Republic of Taiwan was a short-lived republic on the island of Taiwan. It was also called in simplified Chinese "台湾民主国"; traditional Chinese "臺灣民主國"; pinyin "Táiwān Mínzhǔguó", which means "Democratic State of Taiwan". In English it was also called the Formosan Republic, Taiwan Republic and the Republic of Formosa.
Q: When was the Republic of Taiwan formed?
A: The Republic of Taiwan was formed in 1895.
Q: How long did it last?
A: The Republic of Taiwan did not last for very long. It began when the Chinese left in May, 1895, and ended when Japanese soldiers arrived in October, 1896.
Q: Was it the first republic in Asia?
A: Some historians say that it was the first republic in Asia, but there was one earlier - the Lanfang Republic - which had been started in 1777.
Q: Who were some key people involved with forming this new government?
A: The republic was started by a group of high officials and local people who still supported the Qing Dynasty. They wanted to stop Japan's take over of Taiwan. On May 24th 1895, they sent a copy of their declaration of independence to all embassies on Taiwan and held an independence ceremony on May 25th 1895.
Q: What measures did they take to show their loyalty to China?
A: The leaders declared that their new republic would be part loyal to China's Qing state and printed stamps and paper money as symbols or loyalty towards China's Qing dynasty.
Q:What happened when Japanese soldiers invaded? A:When Japanese soldiers invaded there were many battles fought against them until eventually they quickly defeated them and most officials fled from the island shortly after
