Amid rising tensions between China and Taiwan, the Taiwanese government has issued a ban on attendance at the 160th birthday celebration of Sun Yat-sen, scheduled for next month in Beijing.
Sun Yat-sen is revered as a founding figure in both China and Taiwan, having led the 1911 Xinhai Revolution that overthrew the Qing Dynasty and established the Republic of China, the first republic in Asia. As such, both the Chinese Communist Party and the Kuomintang (KMT) in Taiwan regard him as a historical icon.
However, the current pro-independence faction in Taiwan emphasizes its distinct identity and views Sun as a figure associated with past foreign rule that obstructed Taiwan's independence, leading to a more critical stance towards him.
On October 16, Liang Wenzhe, deputy head and spokesperson of Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC), stated during a regular briefing that the government would not permit attendance at the event. He claimed, "China is using this event to promote anti-independence and encourage unification."
He also referenced the Cross-Strait Relations Act, which prohibits former high-ranking officials from the national security, foreign affairs, and defense sectors, as well as senior military personnel, from attending political or military events in China. Violating this regulation could result in fines of up to 10 million New Taiwan dollars (approximately $320,000).
Within Taiwan, there are interpretations that China's promotion of Sun Yat-sen is a strategic move aimed at influencing the upcoming local elections in Taiwan. Analysts suggest that by highlighting Sun, China seeks to evoke a sense of shared heritage, potentially swaying public opinion in favor of pro-China and conservative parties like the KMT.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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