Politics · Other · 2 hrs ago
Taiwan urges people to avoid China’s Sun Yat-sen anniversary events
Taiwan’s government urged people not to attend events in China marking Sun Yat-sen’s 160th birthday in November.
Sun helped lead the 1911 revolution that ended China’s imperial rule and founded the Republic of China, Taiwan’s formal name.
Taipei says Beijing uses Sun’s legacy to promote unification and oppose Taiwan independence.
China calls Sun a national hero and a forerunner of its 1949 revolution, while Taiwan also officially regards him as the father of the nation.
The Republic of China government moved to Taiwan in 1949 after losing a civil war to Mao Zedong’s communists.
Beijing has never ruled out using force to bring Taiwan under its control, and China’s leader has described reunification as a sacred duty.
The dispute reflects a wider disagreement over Taiwan’s identity and history; China has not detailed its November events, and its Taiwan affairs office did not respond to a request for comment.
Taiwan’s government has urged people not to attend events in China marking Sun Yat-sen’s 160th birthday in November.
Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council said the commemorations promote a narrative opposing Taiwan independence and supporting unification.
China announced the commemorations in 2025 but has not detailed the events.
Sun helped lead the 1911 revolution that ended imperial rule and founded the Republic of China.
Sun is officially regarded as Taiwan’s “father of the nation,” while Beijing also describes him as a national hero.
- Who
- Taiwan’s government has urged people not to attend. China plans the commemorations.
- What
- Taiwan told people to avoid events marking the 160th anniversary of Sun Yat-sen’s birth.
- When
- The events are planned for November; the council issued its statement late on Oct. 15.
- Where
- The events will be held in China.
- Why
- Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council says the events promote a narrative opposing Taiwan independence and supporting unification.
Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council
China’s government
Purpose of commemorations
Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council
The events promote a narrative opposing Taiwan independence and supporting unification.
China’s government
Beijing describes Sun as a national hero and patriot and the forerunner of China’s 1949 revolution.
Sun’s legacy
Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council
The council says China’s interpretation does not stay faithful to historical fact.
China’s government
China presents Sun as a national hero and patriot.
Sun helped lead the revolution that ended centuries of imperial rule.
Sun Yat-sen died.
The Republic of China government fled to Taiwan after losing the civil war to Mao Zedong’s communists.
Xi Jinping said Sun opposed attempts to “split the country” and described reunification as a sacred duty.
China announced commemorations for Sun’s 160th birthday on Nov. 12.
Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council urged people not to attend the events in China.
- Planned anniversary
- 160th birthday of Sun Yat-sen
- Commemoration date
- Nov. 12
- Planned location
- China
- Taiwan council statement
- Late on Oct. 15
- Sun’s revolution
- 1911
- Sun’s death
- 1925
What people are saying
echo the Chinese communists’ narratives
It uses these commemorations to promote a narrative of ‘opposing Taiwan independence and promoting unification,’
complete reunification of the motherland