The complicity of the United States in the tragic events of February 28, 1947 and the White Terror period following the “228 Massacre” in Taiwan are the subjects of an upcoming conference at the University of Washington.
The Washington Formosa Association for Public Affairs is hosting a conference at the campus on February 28th. The title of the conference is “Reexamining Taiwan’s 228 Massacre: A discussion on the U.S. role in Taiwan then and now” and will explore the United States “relationship and culpability.”
Participants at the gathering include Jonathan Manthorpe, author of Forbidden Nation: A History of Taiwan. Manthorpe has been a foreign correspondent for 25 years and lived in Southeast Asia for five years.
Also appearing on the panel at the university is Sam Small. Small has spent a dozen years working in Taiwan, including a two-year stint stationed at the Shu Lin-Kuo airfield outside of Taipei. Small was an eyewitness to the Tienanmen Massacre in Beijing and is working on a book about the China-Taiwan relationship.
Event organizers explain what happened in 1947 and why it is still important.
“The arrest of a cigarette vendor in Taipei led to large-scale protests by the native Taiwanese against the corruption and repression of Chiang Kai-shek’s Chinese Nationalist government, which had come over from China with the U.S. Government’s blessing after Japan’s defeat by Allied forces in 1945. Citing the glorious Revolution of 1776, the Americans promised freedom to the Taiwanese from Japanese rule. However, following the unarmed protests, troops that Chiang’s government secretly sent from China rounded up and executed an entire generation of leading figures including students, lawyers, and doctors. Scholars estimate up to 28,000 people lost their lives in the turmoil.”
“The US Consulate in Taipei reported back about these events, but was told by Washington to do nothing. During the “White Terror” of subsequent years, the Nationalists ruled Taiwan under martial law, which only ended when democracy began in the mid-1980s. The “228 Massacre” remains a defining event in the political divide that exists in Taiwan today.”
“To imagine for Americans what the “228 Massacre” meant for Taiwanese, picture the British, after the Boston Tea Party, then rounding up all of whom we now view as the founding fathers and summarily executing them. The ramifications of this on democracy and human rights in America would have been profound, perhaps to the point of America still being under British rule.”
Comments
The 228 Massacre of the Formosan Hans by the KMT Hans was horrible.
But the massacre of the Non-Han Native Taiwanese Aborigines by the early colonizer Formosa Hans, Japanese , and Formosa-Japanese was also a tragic event .
We should also strive to commemorate that sad event less we all become 'accomplices' of such a dastardly act by remaining silent.
The show of Formosa Betrayed is still in playing
right now in Taiwan!
By Ma-In-Jour's R.O.C-in -exile
the so called "Chinese-Taipei!"
It is time that United States Minitary Government
to finish their unfinished bussiness in Taiwan!
prevent the second tragedy of Formosa Betrayed !
God bless America!
God bless Taiwan!
"Daiwan says:
The show of Formosa Betrayed is still in playing
right now in Taiwan!"
Bravo for the democratically elected government of Pres. Ma for not banning the movie .
This shows the big gap between ROC and PRC!
(Continue from above)
Ms. Chin, the mixed-blood offspring of an Anhwei-born father and Taiwanese mother, belatedly "re-discovered" here Atayal roots.
As Murakot battered southern Taiwan two years ago, she shanghaied a party of filial love-impaired aborigines to Yasukuni. There, they played havoc with the bemused 20,000 Takasago MIAs’ spirits enshrined at Japan’s Arlington. In stride, she hoped planes to go Zhongnanhai. There, the good female warrior received Hu’s big hug for outstanding services rendered to the Greater Han nation.
Oh! Yes, let’s not forger her showing-up on the landslide-scarred landscape to distribute aid money. The question is, where did the aid come from? Favor of Zhongnanhai through PRC embassy in Tokyo? The media-savvy legislator Chin is obviously “Mei”; …but ”Su”?....
Ben, your heart's in the right place. But, and quoting here a famous Ma's quip, you've outed yourself as the poster boy for the "gullible American". You completely missed Daiwan's point.
Naruwan, I have in inkling you are big fan of legislator May Chin aka film director Ang Lee’s “The Wedding Banquet” leading lady, Kao Chin Su Mei, Atayal alias Jiwas Ali.
Proud son of Naruwan, are you really concerned about the future of your ancestral land? Then, I beseech you quit whining and seriously mind former President Lee’s appeal to the New Taiwanese in being more inclusive.
For starter go get your inspiration from my comment to Mr. Richardson’s <a>Taiwan faces a new year of political purgatory</a> of December 13, 2009. (To be continued)
jerome, Pres. Lee never admonished the Formosan-Hans to stop using the term 'O-Huan' and 'Hua-Na' which up to now is still so prevalent. Inclusive ? I was like ...' ok let's join the racist Formosan-Hans who looks down on us,... get real man!
jerome, you want some inspiration? Maybe you should date May Chin. Are you tryin to make fun of the Naruwan People? Your way of mocking us is akin to the Formosan Hans calling us 'Hua-Na' . What has any darn film got to do with the Massacre of the Naruwan People by the colonizer Formosan- Hans which was a thousand-fold worst than 228?
We don't need your sympathy but we also don't want your mockery.
Boy! Are you pumped up! Eurika! You’re the Chavez my comment to Mr. Richardson’s “Taiwan faces a new year of political purgatory” called for. The indomitable mettle I sense in you gives me hopes for Taiwan.
However, go easy on your keyboard lest it melts down. Instead, grab your dummy AK47, round up a handful of like-minded buddies, put on war paints. And call for media report in 24/7 loops of your war games in the wilds of Taiwan.
Intelligences of what they can expect would they set boots on Taiwan will give Zhongnanhai war-planners pause. The thought of them envisioning your bands harassing the well disciplined PLA momma’s-baobeis has me frothing at the gash.
While I have your attention, I still believe you’re the honorable Ms. Chin’s self-appointed henchman. Your undignified screech sounds like Ali’s antics at Yasukuni.
Before you use your right of response, please rein in your short fuse. Pay attention to my writing. Don’t embarrass yourself in pretending you misread
Strange but obvious it's not Naruwen who's got the short fuse.
But I agree with Naruen about the inapproriate use of May Chin to the topic of 228 and Naruwen massacre.
The censorship habit practiced by many pro-Taiwan bloggers are doing harm to the cause of the DPP . The impression is that the DPP is paying them to delete non-pro DPP people.
I think it'll do no harm whem mentioning 228 to also pay our respect to the massacred Taiwan Aborigines.
Don't be afraid of the truth.
jerome, please keep your obsession for May Chin privately.
The families of the 228 Massacre and Taiwan Aborigines Triple Massacre needs our solemn respect .
You need to pray at Yasukuni to cure your obsession.
228 also victimized the Aboriginals as well! Ok lets remember all tragic events commited to the aboriginals! but if you think your fate and history is best remembered under any chinese regime--you are sadly stupidly mistaken. For whatever mistakes the Holo and Hakka (Han) Taiwanese committed in the early days of Taiwanese history, there should be recognition of that but your history is best glorified, remembered, and strived forward in a Taiwan Republic! May Chin is so myopic in its protest against everything, she falls into the hands of the China centric! She goes to protest the shrine in Japan and forgets to protest KMT atrocities which by many accounts were far worse! The Japs were dogs--they ate your food but were disciplined, loyal, and took care of you. The KMT were pigs--they ate your food and dumped all over you--corruption was rampant!
Also Naruwan Republic and may Chin, The Chinese (commies and KMT) say the aboriginals came from China! Bolderdash! The Taiwanese (Holo and Hakka) advocates for a Taiwan Republic tell the truth that the aboriginals originated from Taiwan and are Malayo Polynesian who then migrated southward and eastward to spread throughout the lands of the Pacific. Where do you stand now! If not by The Taiwanese, then you are a waste of everybody's time and a kowtow to the Chinese and a liar to your aboriginal bros and sisses! Be as peaved to the Chinese as you are to the Japanese!
REMEMBER THE PASSION AND LOVE FOR TAIWAN OF THE FALLEN OF THE 228 MASSACRE 1947! THE WAKE-UP CALL FOR A FREE TAIWAN NATION (FOR ALL ETHNIC GROUPS OF TAIWAN). FORMOSA FOREVER!!!
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