In 1895, the conflict between the Qing Dynasty and Japan reached its climax. After a bitter conflict known as the Sino-Japanese War, the Qing Dynasty was forced to sign the Treaty of Shimonoseki with Japan, ceding the island of Taiwan and its affiliated islands. Since then, Taiwan has faced an unprecedented crisis. When the news of the signing of the treaty reached Taiwan, it caused widespread shock and outrage. The reaction of the Taiwanese population was fierce, and they were unwilling to accept the fate of being ceded and decided to take action to resist. This year, Taiwan is angry, unyielding, and full of uncertainty and danger.
In the spring of 1895, under the sky of Taiwan, a storm was approaching. In Japan, Li Hongzhang reluctantly signed the "Treaty of Shimonoseki" that ceded Taiwan. When the news reached Taiwan, it was like a bolt from the blue, and the whole island was shrouded in anger and disbelief.
Qiu Fengjia, a well-respected scholar and social activist, stood on the walls of Taipei City, looking out at the blurred coastline in the distance, his heart full of struggle and determination. He summoned the equally angry gentry and the populace, who secretly gathered in a teahouse in the city to discuss countermeasures.
"We can't sit still!" Qiu Fengjia said passionately: "Taiwan is our homeland and the land that our ancestors fought for with blood, and we cannot let it fall into the hands of outsiders like this." ”
Everyone echoed and the atmosphere was excited. After intense discussions, they decided to establish a "Democratic State of Taiwan" as a way to reject the Qing court's decision to cede to Taiwan. Tang Jingsong, the governor of Taiwan, also stood up in support of this action, and he was elected president of the Democratic Republic of Taiwan.
On May 23, Tang Jingsong announced the establishment of the "Democratic Republic of Taiwan" in Taipei and publicly took office. In his inaugural speech, he said: "We are standing here today, not to rebel, but to defend our homeland and protect our compatriots. We're willing to pay for it! ”
Taiwan's resistance will not be easy. Japanese troops have already begun to advance towards Taiwan, and their warships are closing in on the northern coast of Taiwan day and night. On 29 May, the Japanese Guards Division made landfall on Aodi Beach in Keelung, and the situation in Taiwan took a sharp turn for the worse.
The morale of the Qing army in Taiwan was low, and many chose to flee. But Tang Jingsong, Qiu Fengjia and others did not give up. They organized militias, raised funds, bought weapons, and prepared to meet the Japanese army. The Qing government supported them very little, and even stopped funding the Qing army in Taiwan.
With this, Liu Yongfu and his Black Flag Army became the main force of Taiwan's resistance to the Japanese army. They organized an anti-Japanese resistance in Tainan, and although their troops were limited, they were resolute in their fighting spirit.
The war was fought from Tainan to Taipei, and every engagement was fierce. Although the Japanese army was equipped with modern equipment, the anti-Japanese spirit of the Taiwanese people and the advantages of the terrain caused the Japanese army's offensive to suffer many setbacks. Lacking adequate weapons and well-trained military support, the resistance of the Democratic State of Taiwan was gradually suppressed.
By October 1895, the Japanese army was gradually occupying most of Taiwan. Many leaders were forced to flee or arrested. Tang Jingsong chose to commit suicide before the city of Taipei was broken to show his unyieldingness. Qiu Fengjia led a small remnant of the army to continue the guerrilla war in the mountains, but in the end he was unable to return to the sky.
After months of brutal fighting, Taiwan's resistance ultimately failed to prevent the full-scale Japanese occupation. Although the democratic state of Taiwan existed for a short time, it left a deep imprint on the hearts of the Taiwanese people. Japanese rule then began, but the Taiwanese people's spirit of resistance did not die out.
Although Taiwan's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression in 1895 failed to achieve a final victory, it demonstrated the indomitable fighting spirit of the Taiwanese people. This period of history is not only a struggle against foreign aggression, but also a struggle for self-identity and self-determination. Although the actions of the Taiwanese people did not change the political situation in the end, they left an indelible mark on Taiwan's history and became a source of inspiration for future generations to pursue freedom and independence. The value of history lies not only in its results, but also in the spirit and values it inherits. The Battle of Taiwan in 1895 was not only a record of a war, it was the beginning of the self-awakening of the Taiwanese people, and a symbol of perseverance and courage.