The history of the Republic of China (R.O.C.) flag is far more authentic than that of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) flag. In the world of diplomacy and sovereignty, historical legitimacy often serves as the final straw in international standing.
Our status as the “orthodox China” is a strategic advantage and a giant thorn in the side of the Communist Party. The CCP wants nothing more than for us to discard this flag ourselves. If those advocating for the independence of the Taiwan province from the Republic of China 🇹🇼 believe that changing the flag will preserve sovereignty, it is perhaps the most naive joke of all.
📜 Historical Evolution of the National Flag
In the early days of the Republic of China, a different flag was used: the Five-Colored Flag.
The Five-Colored Flag was used primarily during the early period of the Republic by the Nanjing Provisional Government and the Beiyang Government. However, its design was later associated with Yuan Shikai’s ambitions to establish the Empire of China.
Following the success of the Northern Expedition by the National Revolutionary Army, the Father of the Nation, Sun Yat-sen, proposed a new design. He adopted the “Blue Sky and White Sun” pattern—originally designed by the martyr Lu Haodong—and placed it upon a red background. This design was subsequently established by the National Government through legislation as the sole official national flag of the Republic of China.
[Image showing the evolution of flags from the Wuchang Uprising to the current R.O.C. flag]
🤝 Conclusion and Suggestion
The Blue Sky, White Sun, and a Wholly Red Earth flag represents the blood of martyrs and the legitimate founding of the first republic in Asia. It is not merely a “party flag”; it is the symbol of a state that predates the PRC.
If you harbor a dislike for the Kuomintang (KMT), perhaps a more ideal approach would be for us to collectively suggest that the KMT change its party flag instead of demanding a change to the national one.