The 151-day Republic of Formosa: A desperate, short-lived attempt to block Japanese annexation

History · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In 1895, as the Qing dynasty ceded Taiwan to Japan, local elites declared an independent republic to resist the transfer. Despite adopting a flag, currency, and a Parisian-style manifesto, the state was ignored by Western powers and officially disavowed by China, collapsing after only five months of military struggle.

The Republic of Formosa emerged from the power vacuum created by the 1895 Treaty of Shimonoseki, which transferred Taiwan from Qing China to the Empire of Japan. Fearing Japanese rule, local notables in Taipei proclaimed independence on 23 May 1895. They appointed the former Qing governor-general, Tang Jingsong, as president, and tasked the veteran commander Liu Yongfu with leading the military resistance. To gain international legitimacy, they appointed Chen Jitong, a diplomat familiar with European customs, to lobby for support, though their efforts to secure a protectorate status from Britain and France had already failed.

The Republic attempted to project sovereignty through traditional symbols, including a yellow tiger flag, a state seal, and the issuance of postage stamps and paper money. However, the Qing court, anxious to avoid offending Japan during delicate negotiations over the Liaodong Peninsula, officially disavowed the movement. On 20 May, the court ordered all Qing officials and soldiers to leave the island. Consequently, the Republic was left isolated, with Western powers refusing recognition because the territory had already been legally ceded to Japan.

Military defense was hampered by the Republic's lack of unified support. While Tang Jingsong claimed 150,000 troops, observers estimated the actual force at 75,000, comprising Qing regulars, local volunteers, and Hakka militia. The Japanese landed at Keelung on 29 May 1895, and their campaign culminated in the Battle of Baguashan on 27 August, the largest conflict on Taiwanese soil. Following the fall of Tainan on 21 October 1895, organized resistance ended. While the Republic left little behind but collector's stamps, it remains a historical touchstone, though modern independence advocates often distance themselves from its original goal of maintaining Chinese suzerainty.

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