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| Flag of the Republic of China | |
|---|---|
| Name | Republic of China |
| Proportion | 2:3 |
| Adoption | 28 October 1928 |
| Design | A red field with a blue canton bearing a white sun with twelve rays |
| Designer | Lu Hao-tung / Sun Yat-sen |
Flag of the Republic of China
The national flag used by the Republic of China is a red banner bearing a navy blue canton charged with a white sun of twelve rays; it serves as the emblem of the Republic of China on Taiwan and among overseas Chinese diaspora communities. The flag's iconography and proportions derive from symbols adopted during the Xinhai Revolution and the early years of the Kuomintang under leaders such as Sun Yat-sen and Chiang Kai-shek, and it remains central to debates involving the People's Republic of China, United States, Japan, and other states recognizing or engaging with Taiwan.
The flag's composition—red field, blue canton, white sun—combines elements associated with Revolutionary Alliance, Kuomintang symbolism, and revolutionary mottos propagated by Sun Yat-sen and associates like Lu Hao-tung and Huang Xing. The white sun with twelve rays, originally the emblem of the Kuomintang (KMT), symbolizes the twelve traditional Chinese calendar hours (時辰) and the concept of progress, while the blue canton represents nationalism and liberty connected to Three Principles of the People and the program of the Tongmenghui. The red field recalls the blood sacrificed during uprisings such as the Wuchang Uprising and the broader anti-Qing campaigns led by figures like Liang Qichao and Zhang Zhidong. Proportions and color specifications were formalized during the Nationalist Government era led by Chiang Kai-shek and later codified by legal instruments influenced by officials in Nanjing and Taipei.
The emblematic white sun first appeared as a party emblem of the Kuomintang after its 1912 reorganization and was associated with early revolutionaries including Song Jiaoren and Liao Zhongkai. During the Warlord Era, competing banners and standards used by figures such as Cao Kun and Feng Yuxiang led to variations until the Northern Expedition unified many symbols under the authority of the Nationalist Government in Nanjing. On 28 October 1928, after victories tied to campaigns against warlords and the consolidation of Chiang Kai-shek's power, the current flag combining the KMT canton with a red field was adopted as the national standard, superseding earlier proposals like the "Five-Colored Flag" associated with the Beiyang Government and figures such as Yuan Shikai. During the Second Sino-Japanese War, the flag flew over resistance efforts led by commanders such as Zhang Xueliang and international interactions with governments including the Soviet Union and United Kingdom. After the Chinese Civil War and the retreat of the Republic of China government to Taiwan in 1949, the flag continued as the ROC national emblem and was integrated into state ceremonies, diplomatic missions like embassies in countries such as Vatican City and informal relations with states such as Nauru and Eswatini.
Protocols governing display of the flag were promulgated by institutions in Nanking-era administrations and later adapted by ministries in Taipei, including rules on half-mast during memorials for figures like Chiang Kai-shek and national observances tied to the Double Ten Day commemorations initiated by revolutionaries including Sun Yat-sen. The flag is displayed at legislative locations such as the Legislative Yuan, executive sites like the Presidential Office Building (Taiwan), and military installations once commanded by generals like Bai Chongxi. Diplomatic usage has varied: embassies and consulates of the ROC raised the flag abroad historically in capitals like Washington, D.C. and Tokyo, while shifting recognition by countries such as United States (post-1979 policy changes) and Japan altered overt display practices, often involving liaison offices or representative organizations such as the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office.
Several flags related to the national banner exist: the presidential standard used by occupants of the Presidency of the Republic of China, military banners of formations descended from units in the National Revolutionary Army, and party flags of the Kuomintang. Historical predecessors include the "Five-Colored Flag" of the Beiyang Government and regional warlord standards flown by commanders like Wu Peifu. Overseas, the emblem is incorporated into banners of organizations such as the Young China Party and Taiwanese cultural groups active in cities like San Francisco and Vancouver. During political demonstrations, alternative designs invoking symbols from movements associated with figures such as Chen Shui-bian or organizations like the Democratic Progressive Party have appeared alongside or in opposition to the national banner.
Legal treatment of the flag traces to statutes and regulations enacted under administrations from Nanjing Nationalist Government to modern legislatures in Taipei, with laws prescribing penalties for desecration and misuse; such provisions have produced legal disputes involving activists, municipal authorities in places like Kaohsiung and Taipei City, and human rights organizations including international NGOs. Controversies swirl around identity politics between parties like the Kuomintang and the Democratic Progressive Party, cross-strait relations with the People's Republic of China and leaders such as Xi Jinping, and diplomatic incidents involving countries that have switched recognition from the ROC to the PRC, influencing display of the flag in locales including Kiribati and Honduras. Court cases and legislative debates have addressed freedom of expression claims brought by activists influenced by civil movements like the Sunflower Student Movement and historical memory disputes tied to figures such as Chen Shui-bian and events like the 228 Incident.
Category:Flags of Asia