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Republic of China (Taiwan)

Taiwan

by Zeljko Heimer
Flag adopted 1928-OCT-8, coat of arms adopted 1895-Mar-26

See also:

China
China Republic, 1914-49 (Ed: Taiwan has retained several flags of the Chinese Republic in use prior to the establishment of the Republic of China in Taiwan)
Spratley Islands

Explanation of the flag

The red in the flag represents the land of China itself, with reference to the Han race which is the dominant race among the many races of China. The white sun symbolises the spirit of progress as the twelve points represent the twelve hours of the day (a traditional chinese hour = two conventional hours), and the sun on a blue field is the party flag of the Kuomintang (Nationalist Party) which still rules Taiwan today. This flag was first used in 1928.
Xuess Wee York Ting, 25 September 1996

Mr. Hou-tung Lu designed the basics of the national flag of Taiwan (the blue sky, white sun). Later the red field was added by Dr. Sun Yat-sen to become the national flag.
Michael Wang, 13 May 1997

I have the 1919 and 1930 editions of Jane's Fighting Ships which show the naval and marine ensigns of the day. This flag of Taiwain is shown in both the 1919 and 1930 editions of Jane's Fighting Ships and is identified as the Chinese Naval Ensign.
Glen Robert-Grant Hodgins, 30 March 1998

Strictly speaking, the flag was first officially adopted in 1914 as the 'naval flag' (both afloat and ashore). It became the national flag in 1928, but remained the naval flag. It is still the official naval flag in Taiwan.
Miles Li, 02 February 1999

In a book titled: 'Republic of China: a reference book', published in 1983 by United Pacific International Inc. and sponsored by the Government Information Office of the Republic of China (Taiwan), there is a description of the symbolism of the colours in the national flag: 'The three colors of blue, white and crimson collectively signify the Three Principles of the People:
Blue - Liberty, justice and Min Chuan (Democracy)
White - Equality, brightness and Min Sheng (People's Livelihood)
Crimson - Fraternity, sacrifice and Min Tsu (Nationalism)'
Jose Manuel Erbez, 23 September 1999<.P>

The symbolism cited for the Taiwanese flag by Jose Manuel is Correct. The "three principles of the people" represented by the white-twelve-pointed star (Equality, brightness and Min Sheng (People's Livelihood)), the blue canton (Liberty, justice and Min Chuan (Democracy)) and red field (Fraternity, sacrifice and Min Tsu (Nationalism)) were drafted by the Republic of China's founding father Dr Sun Yat-Sen. In a book called "Sun Yat-Sen's Revolution: a Pictorial History" some pictures of the original designs are depicted... Whenever I find the means of scanning those pictures, I'll do so.

The design was primarily the political flag of the Tung Meng Hui Society (later, in 1912, the Kuo Ming Tang, KMT, Taiwan's ruling party) and, after the 1911 revolution and later, after the death of Yuan Shi Kai in 1916 (the Republic of China's second provisional president reccomended by Dr. Sun; Yuan was to declare himself emperor) and the ongoing fightings between chinese warlords during the 1920s, became the flag of the Republic. After the victory of the Chinese Communist forces over those of nationalist China, the Government fled to Taiwan island (Formosa) where it settled as an exile government. This goverment remained internationally recognised until the mid-seventies, when the UN admitted and recognised Beijing's (instead of Taipei's) government as the legitimate government of China. Although the RoC (Taiwan) continued to make claims over the Chinese mainland, it seeems now that Taipei's government is seeking for the recognition of its independance as a State. So we might be looking forward to a change in the flag and the coat of arms (even though I see that as an unlikely possibility.
Guillermo Aveledo, 23 September 1999

Civil ensign

by Zeljko Heimer, 05 July 1996

From the Flagmakers catalogue: red with blue canton with white sun; in the red field four yellow zig-zag lines, ratio 2:3.
Zeljko Heimer, 05 July 1996

I received very recently from Taiwan new personal marks for Minister of Defence, joint Chief of Staff and Naval Chief of Staff, and by phone with the diplomatic representation in Paris the information that Civil Ensign was allegedly the normal National Flag. can anyone confirm this precise point?
Armand Noel du Payrat, 29 November 1999

I received a reply from Republic of China representatives in Tokyo that they use a national flag for civil ensign as the Taiwanese government in Paris noted and they (Tokyo) have not seen the yellow or green striped flag in Taiwan.
Nozomi Kariyasu

President's standard

By Ivan Sache

The presidential flag is of particular historical interest. The story began in 1924, when the Army Officers' College was established in Whampoa, near Canton (Guangzhou), China, with Chiang Kai-Shek appointed as Commandant (headmaster). The College adopted a red flag, with the white sun on a blue disc at the centre of the flag. (This flag is still used by several military colleges in Taiwan.) When Chiang became the president of China in 1928, it seemed natural for him to adopt a presidential flag which reflected his connection with the Whampoa College. Hence a flag similar to the Whampoa College flag, but with the addition of yellow borders, became the presidential flag.
Miles George Li, 15 June 1999

Vice President's standard

by Ivan Sache

Taiwanese Olympic flag

by Zeljko Heimer, 27 July 1996

At the Olympics, Taiwan is called 'Chinese Taipei' and the athletes compete under the Olympic flag.
Josh Fruhlinger, 07 February 1996

I saw in the past Olympics´openning ceremonies, in the parade of the national olympics teams that Taiwan uses a white flag with the Taiwan´s National Olympic Committee´s emblem. This flag is used since 1980 by a International Olympic Committee´s resolution in 1979, because the Taiwan´s national flag was used by the nationalist forces in continental China, during the army conflict between Chiang Kai-shek and Mao Tse- tung.
Roberto Miramontes Ibarra, 02 September 1999