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![[Flag of Taiwan]](../images/t/tw.gif)
image by Miles Li, 21 March 2014
Proportions: 2:3
Usage Code: ![[FIS Code]](../misc/fissumry.gif){kind=small}
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Taiwan has retained several flags of the Chinese
Republic in use prior to the establishment of the Republic of China in
Taiwan: It's improper to say "establishment in" here, because Taiwan has been
ruled under ROC since 1945, before 1949. It's better to say "retreat to".
Besides, "Chinese Republic" usually is equivalent to
"Republic of China" today, but officially, the former was the translation of
Peking Government (or Beiyang Government) and the later is the translation of
KMT Government since mid-1928. It's hardly to take the former to mean the period
before the establishment of the People’s Republic of China
and the later to mean only after Oct. 1, 1949.
Akira Oyo, 18 April 2014
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 symbolizes 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 ruled Taiwan until 2000. This flag was first used in 1928.
Xuess Wee York Ting, 25 September 1996
Editorial Note: The above has been corrected to reflect the
current political situation.
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 Taiwan 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
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.
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
recommended by Dr. Sun; Yuan was to declare himself emperor) and the ongoing
fighting 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 government remained internationally
recognized until the mid-seventies, when the UN admitted and recognized
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 seems now that Taipei's government is seeking for the recognition
of its independence 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
The National Flag of the Republic (of China) under Articles 3, 4 aand 5 of
Decree No. 47 of the National Government is dated 19 December 1928.
Christopher Southworth, 5 July 2005
![[Taiwan construction sheet]](../images/t/tw'.gif)
image by Željko Heimer
The protocol manual for the
London 2012 Olympics (Flags and Anthems Manual
London 2012 [loc12]) provides recommendations
for national flag designs. Each
NOC was sent an image of the flag,
including the PMS shades, for their approval by LOCOG. Once this was obtained, LOCOG produced
a 60 x 90 cm version of the flag for further approval. So, while these specs may
not be the official, government, version of each flag, they are certainly what
the NOC believed the flag to be.
For Chinese Taipei: PMS 2748 blue, 3005 blue, 485 red, 192 pink, 137 yellow, 355
green, 426 black. The vertical flag is simply the horizontal version turned 90
degrees clockwise.
Ian Sumner, 10 October 2012
The Republic of China (ROC) National Flag and Emblem Act of 1928 did not
mention the colour of the flagpole (other than a red ball finial,
which understandably was almost universally ignored), but the ROC
National Flag and Emblem Act of 1954 did specify a white flagpole with
golden-yellow ball finial.
The President's flag has white pole and golden-yellow spearhead
finial, whereas all other military flags have red pole and
silver-white spearhead finial.
Miles Li, 11 August 2008