228 Memorial Day 2023: Date, History, Facts about Taiwan

228 Memorial Day is observed annually on February 28 in Taiwan. The number “228” represents the date of February 28, when an uprising led to the massacre of thousands of people in Taiwan. This massacre marked the beginning of the White Terror, a period in which many more Taiwanese were murdered, imprisoned, or disappeared. Memorial Day is a time to remember the victims of that dreadful era and to express sympathy for the survivors. These occurrences are currently known as the February 28 Incident or the 228 Massacre. Since then, the Taiwanese government has publicly apologised for the events of that fateful day. The day is significant in the development of a distinct Taiwanese identity and their call for peace on this day recognises the country’s tremendous loss. However, the message is not as distant as it may appear, as it is a day that transcends borders and unites us all through the universal lens of compassion for all people. Taiwan celebrates Peace Memorial Day annually with memorial services, concerts, ceremonies, and exhibitions.

The background of 228 Memorial Day

The Taiwanese government proclaimed February 28 to be 228 Memorial Day, also known as Peace Memorial Day.

The origins of Peace Memorial Day are rooted in centuries of colonialism and oppression. After China’s defeat in the First Sino-Japanese War, the Japanese ruled Taiwan for 50 years beginning in 1895. At the conclusion of World War II in 1945, when the Japanese surrendered, the Republic of China (ROC) regained administrative control.

The Taiwanese initially celebrated the end of Japanese rule with jubilation, but this was short-lived. The Kuomintang (K.M.T.) troops from the ROC proceeded to loot the Taiwanese. Over time, the government monopolised the production and distribution of essential commodities such as paper and tea, and seized control of mines and factories. The overall inefficiency and corruption of the K.M.T. administration threw the economy into disarray.

The events that led to the February 28 incident can be traced back to the period after World War II. When the war ended, the Republic of China assumed administrative control over Taiwan. Before the war, Taiwan had been ruled by the Japanese and enjoyed significant economic development under their rule.

Subsequently, the economic arrangements between Taiwan and China were temporary, pending the development of permanent solutions. However, the Taiwanese quickly grew dissatisfied with the Kuomintang Party-led Chinese government’s corruption and tyranny (KMT). Chen Yi was the Governor-General at the time.

On February 27, 1947, Tobacco Monopoly Bureau agents assaulted a widow who was suspected of selling tobacco in front of a tea house. In response, an officer fired into a crowd of enraged bystanders, killing one man. The following morning, a crowd of outraged Taiwanese protested. Guards opened fire on the protesters as they marched from the Bureau to the Governor-office. General’s The outbreak of violence lasted several weeks and resulted in thousands of deaths. Martial Law was also declared, marking the start of the “White Terror” in Taiwan.

Under the direction of Governor-General Chen Yi, the KMT responded on March 8 with a brutal crackdown. The troops went on a three-day rampage of indiscriminate looting and murder, a massacre that marked the beginning of the ‘White Terror.’

In March of the same year, Nationalist Army reinforcements arrived, and the Governor-General issued an order to imprison and execute all uprising organisers. This also resulted in the deaths of between 3,000 to 4,000 people.

Following Chen Yi’s dismissal and subsequent execution in 1950, the families of victims received monetary compensation. Even after martial law was lifted in 1987, the 228 massacres remained a heavily censored subject. Throughout the years, citizen groups fought to lift the 228-year-old taboo. Their efforts paid off when in 1995, President Lee Teng-Hui issued a formal apology and declared February 28 Peace Memorial Day.

Despite the impossibility of reversing the tragic events, the Taiwanese government demonstrated good faith by issuing a public apology. An Act was also signed into law, providing monetary compensation to survivors of the massacre.

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5 Interesting Taiwan Facts

• Only 2.3% of Taiwan’s population is Taiwanese by birth.
• Similar to how ice cream trucks play music to alert residents in other countries, garbage trucks in Taiwan also play music to alert residents of their arrival.
• As white represents death, it is the colour worn at funerals in Taiwan.
• Taiwan has been ruled by three different nations, namely China, the Netherlands, and Japan.
• The Taipei 101 building in Taiwan was once the tallest in the world until Dubai’s Burj Khalifa broke the record.

228 MEMORIAL DAY DATES