This year marks the 100th anniversary of the 1911 Revolution (辛亥革命). President Ma Ying-jeou on the morning of October 3 attended the opening of the International Conference in Centennial Commemoration of the 1911 Revolution. In addition to praising the contributions to democracy and freedom made by Dr. Sun Yat-sen, the nation's founding father, the president also urged the people of the ROC to always bear in mind the historical importance and far-reaching impact of the 1911 Revolution.
In remarks at the event, the president first described the exciting and dramatic course of events led by Dr. Sun in the founding of the ROC. Dr. Sun headed to Honolulu, Hawaii 117 years ago where he established the Revive China Society (興中會). The March 29, 1911 uprising failed, and many revolutionaries sacrificed their lives in that event. However, Dr. Sun was undeterred in his embrace of revolutionary principles and 18 years after the founding of the Revive China Society, Asia's first democratic republic was finally born, he said.
President Ma stated that after the founding of the Republic of China, the nation experienced a number of challenges, including the Northern Expedition (1926-1928), the War of Resistance against Japan (1937-1945), and the Chinese Civil War (1927-1937; 1945-1949). In 1943, however, the ROC finally was able to abolish unequal treaties, putting an end to the nation's unfair treatment. The ROC gained unprecedented international status after its victory in the War of Resistance against Japan, he said, and in 1946 the nation enacted a constitution, enabling national development to progress based on the foundation of constitutional government.
President Ma remarked that the ROC passed the Temporary Provisions Effective During the Period of National Mobilization for Suppression of the Communist Rebellion in response to developments during the Chinese Civil War, which resulted in freezing articles in the ROC Constitution related to national systems and freedom for the people. However, after martial law was lifted in 1987, the nation began to fully implement the principles of freedom and democracy, he said. This demonstrates that the ideals which Dr. Sun was unable to realize in mainland China, ultimately were achieved step by step in Taiwan.
President Ma furthermore stressed that the 1911 Revolution was merely a means to the establishment of the Republic of China. The 1911 Revolution was only a process; the true objective was the fulfillment of Dr. Sun's ideals via the establishment of a republic. President Ma remarked that Taiwan has already become a fully democratic nation. The people of the nation directly elect the president and their representatives in the legislature. In addition, a diverse range of voices is present in the management of the nation's affairs and of society. The president expressed his confidence that the majority of the ideals advocated when Dr. Sun established the Revive China Society and the Revolutionary Alliance (同盟會) have been realized.
The president commented how history is full of serendipity. Eighteen years after Dr. Sun established the Revive China Society, the ROC was founded. Meanwhile, 18 years after Dr. Sun passed away, the unequal treaties were abolished. These historical events prove that "people are the masters of their own fate; the key is one's determination," he said.
President Ma stated that Dr. Sun's Three Principles of the People set forth in the ROC Constitution and American President Abraham Lincoln's idea of a government which is "of the people, by the people, and for the people" are both reflections and manifestations of the Western ideal of liberal democracy. This demonstrates that the path we have taken is the right one, the president said, adding that the government will continue to move forward along this road.
The president stressed that the 1911 Revolution is something that all ethnic Chinese throughout the world should look up to. This is not just history, but also bears close relation to our present-day lives. President Ma called on the public to appreciate and remember the importance of these events.