The 1996 proposal for the flag of the Republic of Taiwan, designed by the Rev. Donald Liu, is perhaps the most prominent design.

Several proposals for a flag of Taiwan have been initiated by supporters of Taiwan independence to replace the flag of the Republic of China as the national flag flown over Taiwan. Supporters of Taiwan independence object to the use of the flag of the Republic of China since it was designed by and closely associated with the Kuomintang (supporters of Taiwan being merged into the country of the People's Republic of China) and signifies Taiwan's historical link with mainland China.^[1] Image File history File links Flag_of_Taiwan. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Taiwan. ... Proposed flag for the proposed Republic of Taiwan The Republic of Taiwan (臺灣共和國; Taiwanese: Tâi-oân Kiōng-hô-kok) is a goal of increasing supporters of Taiwan independence in creating a Taiwanese state unambiguously separate from China, covering (at most) the areas currently controlled by the Republic of... Taiwan independence (Chinese: 台灣獨立, pinyin: Táiwān dúlì, Taiwanese Romanization: Tâi-oân To̍k-li̍p; abbreviated to 台獨, Táidú, Tâi-to̍k) is a political movement whose goal is primarily to create an independent and sovereign Republic of Taiwan (out of the lands currently administered... Flag ratio: 2:3 The flag of the Republic of China is red with a dark blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a white sun with 12 triangular rays. ... A national flag is a flag that symbolises a country and that can usually be flown by citizens of that country. ... The Chinese Nationalist Party (Traditional: 中國國民黨; Simplified: 中国国民党; pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Chung-kuo Kuo-min-tang; Tongyong Pinyin: Jhongguo Guomindang), commonly known as the Kuomintang (KMT), is a conservative political party currently active in the Republic of China (ROC) on Taiwan. ... In this map of China, the light-coloured areas represent Mainland China, while yellow coloured area refers to Taiwan. ...

Prominent proposals

In 1996, a "New Name, New Flag, New Anthem" campaign was launched to rename the Republic of China, replace the flag of the Republic of China, and the National Anthem of the Republic of China, all of which were brought to Taiwan by the Kuomintang.^[2] After a contest in which 187 different flags were entered, the "eight chrysanthemum-petal flag" emerged as the winner. Its green color was to symbolize the "natural beauty of the island and the need to protect the environment"; its white color was to symbolize the "original purity of the people on the island and the desire to preserve this natural beauty"; and the chrysanthemum was the symbolize the "four hearts in harmony, representing the four population groups on the island: aborigines, Hakka, Min-nan Taiwanese, and mainlanders. Some Chinese nationalists criticized the chrysanthemum design as being reminiscent of the Imperial Seal of Japan and therefore a promotion of Japanese militarism. The "eight chrysanthemum-petal flag" has emerged as the most well known proposed flag of Taiwan, but it has not gained acceptance from the mainstream Democratic Progressive Party. National motto: None Official language Mandarin Chinese Capital and largest city Taipei President Chen Shui-bian Vice President Annette Lu Premier Frank Hsieh Area  - Total  - % water Ranked 138th 35,980 km² 2. ... National Anthem of the Republic of China (中華民國國歌, pinyin: zhōnghúa míngúo gúogē), is the current national anthem of the Republic of China on Taiwan. ... A Rukai village Chief visiting the Department of Anthropology in Tokyo Imperial University during the Japanese rule. ... Hakka (Traditional: 客家; Simplified: 客家; Hanyu Pinyin: ; literal meaning guest families) are a Han Chinese people whose ancestors are said to originate from around Henan and Shanxi in northern China over 2700 years ago. ... Hoklo (pronounced Holo; Chinese ; Mandarin pronunciation--pinyin: Fulao) can refer to an ethnic-cultural group originating in Fujian province, China. ... Mainlanders are those humans who live, or were born, in a mainland. ... The May Fourth Movement in 1919 marked a turning point in the history of Chinese nationalism. ... The National and Imperial Seal of Japan was originally the Imperial Seal, and is called 菊の御紋 Kiku No Gomon in Japanese, which, literally, means Noble Symbol of Chrysanthemum or Imperial Seal of Chrysanthemum . The Imperial Seal is used by members of the Japanese Imperial family. ... Japanese militarism (日本軍國主義)refers to militarism, the philosophical belief that military personnel (army or navy) should exercise full power in a nation. ... The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) (Chinese: 民主進步黨; abbrev. ...

More recently, the 908 Taiwan Republic Campaign raised its version of the proposed flag of Taiwan in front of the Presidential Building in front of a crowd of about 500 (mostly Taiwan Solidarity Union supporters) on September 8, 2005—a date it proclaimed "Taiwan's Independence Day" to mark the anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of San Francisco in 1952 in which Japan relinquished its claim to Taiwan.^[3] This flag, which had been featured in smaller rallies elsewhere in Taiwan, featured three vertical stripes in blue, white, and green and a red circle in the middle along with the characters "State of Taiwan" (台灣國). The flag was meant to symbolize History of Taiwan: the red circle to represent Japan, the blue to respresent the KMT, and green to represent the DPP. Taiwan Governor-Generals Office in 1937 during Japanese rule. ... The Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) (Traditional Chinese: 台灣團結聯盟, pinyin: Táiwān túanjíe líanméng) is a political party in Taiwan (Republic of China) which advocates Taiwan independence. ... September 8 is the 251st day of the year (252nd in leap years). ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Prime Minister Yoshida Shigeru of Japan, gave a speech on Reconciliation and rapport (和解と信頼) in 1951 at San Francisco Peace conference. ... 1952 (MCMLII) was a [[leap year starting on Tueday] (link will take you to calendar). ... The legal question of which legal entity holds de jure sovereignty over Taiwan is a controversial issue. ... See also History of the Republic of China for a history of the government that currently administers Taiwan. ... Flag ratio: 2:3 The national flag of Japan, known as Nisshōki (日章旗) or Hinomaru (日の丸 sun disc) in Japanese, is a base white flag with a large red disc (representing the rising sun) in the center. ...

Prospects and consensus

This Taiwan Independence Banner was used at a rally in 2003. A variety of banners have been used to represent Taiwan independence in recent years.

While there is a vocal campaign to replace the ROC flag, and independence leaders such as Lee Teng-hui have held multiple mass rallies calling for a new flag, the prospects for replacing the flag of the Republic of China are not high given that changing the flag requires a constitutional amendment; that the current flag has a huge amount of support among pan-Blue coalition supporters and grudging acceptance among moderate independence supporters (not changing the flag of the ROC is one of the elements of the four noes and one without declaration made by President Chen Shui-bian); and because changing the flag might cause political tension with the People's Republic of China. Image File history File links 2003 Taiwan Independence banner File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links 2003 Taiwan Independence banner File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Lee Teng-hui (Traditional: 李登輝; Simplified: 李登辉; Hanyu Pinyin: ) born January 15, 1923) is a politician in the Republic of China on Taiwan. ... The Pan-Blue Coalition, or Pan-Blue Force (Chinese: 泛藍軍; pinyin: fàn lán jÅ«n), is a political coalition in early 21st century Taiwan, consisting of the Kuomintang (KMT), the People First Party (PFP), and the smaller New Party (CNP). ... The Four Noes and One Without (Chinese: 四不一沒有; pinyin: sì bù, yì méiyǒu) is a pledge by President of the Republic of China Chen Shui-bian made in his inauguration speech on May 20, 2000 concerning the political status of Taiwan. ... Chen Shui-bian, President of the Republic of China Chen Shui-bian (ch. ...

While green has emerged as the color of Taiwan independence and can be seen ubiquitously in pro-independence rallies, no flag has achieved consensus among the various groups promoting Taiwan independence as the symbol of a independent Republic of Taiwan. Unlike some other prominent seperatist movements, Taiwan does not have a historical or local flag to be used as a seperatist symbol. The flag of the short-lived Republic of Formosa is unsuitable since the Republic of Formosa was declared by Qing loyalists and designed as a tributary state in a failed attempt avert Japanese annexation in 1895. The local flag of Taiwan, the flag of the Republic of China, is unsuitable as it is already a symbol of Chinese nationalism and associated with Chinese reunification. Green is a color seen commonly in nature. ... Proposed flag for the proposed Republic of Taiwan The Republic of Taiwan (臺灣共和國; Taiwanese: Tâi-oân Kiōng-hô-kok) is a goal of increasing supporters of Taiwan independence in creating a Taiwanese state unambiguously separate from China, covering (at most) the areas currently controlled by the Republic of... The flag for the Republic of Formosa, 1895, depicting a tiger. ... The Qing Dynasty (Manchu: daicing gurun; Chinese: 清朝; pinyin: qīng cháo; Wade-Giles: ching chao), sometimes known as the Manchu Dynasty, was founded by the Manchu clan Aisin Gioro, in what is today northeast China, expanded into China proper and the surrounding territories of Inner Asia, establishing... The Shunpanrō hall where the Treaty of Shimonoseki was signed The Treaty of Shimonoseki (Japanese: 下関条約, Shimonoseki Jōyaku), known as the Treaty of Maguan (T. Chinese: 馬關條約, S. Chinese: 马关条约;) in China, was signed at the Shunpanrō hall on April 17, 1895 between the Empire of Japan and the Qing Empire. ... The May Fourth Movement in 1919 marked a turning point in the history of Chinese nationalism. ... Chinese reunification is a goal of Chinese nationalism which is the unification of all of China under a single political entity. ...

At rallies of the pan-Green coalition, green campaign banners and party flags are commonly waved, but the various proposed flags are never seen in unison.^[4] A dilemma arose when Lee Teng-hui was scheduled to speak at the National Press Club in Washington, DC in 2005: while National Press Club convention would have called the ROC flag to be flown to reflect the nationality of the speaker, pro-independence groups objected to using the flag of the Republic of China while the National Press Club's only other alternative, a Democratic Progressive Party flag, was considered unsuitable as Lee was not a DPP member.^[5] The Pan-Green Coalition (Traditional Chinese: 泛綠聯盟; Simplified Chinese: 泛绿联盟; pinyin: ) or Pan-Green Force (Traditional Chinese: 泛綠軍; Simplified Chinese: 泛绿军; pinyin: ), is an informal political alliance in early 21st century Taiwan, consisting of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU), and the minor Taiwan Independence Party (TAIP). ... The National Press Club is an association of journalists based in Washington, DC. It is well-known for its gatherings with invited speakers, including many presidential candidates and other influential politicians. ... Aerial photo (looking NW) of the Washington Monument and the White House in Washington, DC. Washington, D.C., officially the District of Columbia (also known as D.C.; Washington; the Nations Capital; the District; and, historically, the Federal City) is the capital city and administrative district of the United... The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) (Chinese: 民主進步黨; abbrev. ...

Notes and references

1. ^ Editorial: Taiwan needs a flag to call its own, Taipei Times, Nov 16, 2002, Accessed Jan. 9, 2006.
2. ^ A new flag for a new Taiwan, New Taiwan, Ilha Formosa, Sept. 2, 1996. Accessed Jan. 9, 2006.
3. ^ `Independence' marked in flag-raising celebration, Taipei Times, Sep 09, 2005. Accessed Jan. 9, 2006.
4. ^ Taiwan political parties, Flags of the World, May 28, 2005. Accessed Jan. 9, 2006.
5. ^ Lee scheduled for press club speech in US, Taipei Times, Aug 31, 2005. Accessed Jan. 9, 2006.