ROC Centennial Celebrations

Left to right: Biing-Huei Su, Dr. Young-Tzung Shih with the Republic of China’s “Torch of Peace” (Pictures by J. Lee).

By J. Lee

The Republic of China (ROC) also known as Taiwan was founded January 1, 1912 on Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s three Principles of the People: nationalism, democracy and people’s livelihood.  Educated in Hawaii, his Principles were based on the United States’ democracy. As the “father of modern China”, Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s Presidency ended thousands of years of imperialism.

In recognition of the country’s achievements, Premier Den-yih Wu with President Ying-jeou Ma established a worldwide Republic of China Centennial Commission of 200 to act as ambassadors of peace in expanding awareness, pursuing peace, and engagement in peaceful activities throughout their region of the world.

With approval of President Ying-jeou Ma, Minnesota’s Biing-Huei Su was chosen as a Commissioner, Overseas Compatriot Affairs Commission, Republic of China under Premier Den-yih Wu. Biing-Huei is also Chairman of the Republic of China Centennial Celebration Commission of Minnesota.

An engineer from 3M, Biing-Huei is still a leader and organizer in many Chinese non-profit organizations.  As an appointed Commissioner, Biing-Huei Su brought back the “Torch of Peace” from the Republic of China’s opening ceremonies March 29, 2011 in Honolulu, Hawaii where Dr. Sun Yat-sen first came to the United States.

With the “Torch of Peace”, Biing-Huei’s duty included organizing peaceful activities for the public where the “Torch of Peace” and its mission could be known.  Similar to the America’s Memorial Day and Veterans Day, Biing-Huei said “March 29 is significant as the date lives were first lost in the Revolution for democracy”, “that we must never forget” them or their sacrifices, and “we must unite people to participate in peaceful activities.” The date was established as a national holiday and Festival of the Youth.

The Republic of China (Taiwan) Centennial Celebration Commission of Minnesota was established to help with the program and activities that are open to all.  (In the United States, the Chinese and other ethnic groups are recognized as natural citizens, immigrants or refugees of their ethnic group, and not by the types of government changes over the years in their country of origin.  Chinese in Minnesota are unified as Chinese Americans and Minnesotans.)

The Republic of China Centennial Celebration Commission of Minnesota’s first centennial celebration with the Torch of Peace was a community pictorial of some of the Chinese and Chinese activities in Minnesota for every decade since they came to Minnesota in the 1800s.  The exhibit traveled from the Landmark Center, to the Burnsville Center for the Performing Arts, and is now part of the MN History Center’s Archives.

On August 27, the ROC Centennial Celebration Commission held a public softball game and carnival, and barbeque for the Chinese Veterans at Roseville’s Central Park.  Chinese American veteran Dr. Young-Tzuing Shih, 3M IT manager said he was preparing food for 200.

Sponsors includes the ROC Centennial Celebration Commission of MN, KMT Minnesota Chapter, Overseas Compatriot Affairs Commission of Republic of China, Minnesota Chinese Cultural Services Center, Asian Media Access, Asian Pacific American Housing Consortium, Children’s Hope Intl/R & R Family Ctrs, Chinese American Academic & Professional Association in MN, Minnesota Chinese Student Association, Minnesota Chinese Veterans Association, Twin Cities Chinese Language School (CAAM).

At the National American Legion Convention in the Minneapolis Convention Center, holding a position in the Republic of China similar to U.S. Secretary Eric Shinseki, General Tseng Jing-Ling, Minister of the Veterans Affairs Commission for the Republic of China – gave gifts, a “Medal of Order of Resplendent Banner with Cravat” and re-extended President Ying-jeou Ma, Premier Don-yih Wu, and Minister of National Defense Hua-chu Kao’s official invitation to the National Commander Jimmie Foster from Alaska for them to attend the Republic of China’s ceremonies in Taiwan that runs October 8-14, 2011.

VAC-ROC Director Hans Song as interpreter for the General spoke of their awaiting an official confirmation.  It’s now a matter for the new National Commander Fang Wong, an immigrant and Chinese American from New York.

To coincide with the Centennial Celebrations in Taiwan, the ROC Centennial Celebration Commission of MN will hold its Centennial National Day Celebration as the Centennial Double Ten Festival with the “Torch of Peace” October 8, 2011, 5pm-10pm at Lakes Ballroom North Oaks Golf Club, 54 E. Oaks Rd. Banquet, program, dancing, and fundraising auction tickets are through Biing-Huei Su (651) 733-9827, [email protected], Livia Fan (612) 327-5582 or David Hsiao (612) 548-1814612-548-1814, [email protected].

Biing-Huei is also the contact for the Chinese American Academic & Professional Association’s Annual Conference, September 18, 2011, 9am-4:30pm, North Oaks Golf Club, 54 E. Oaks Rd. Contact  [email protected] for tickets.

Dr. Young-Tzung Shih will be carrying Minnesota’s “Torch of Peace” back to Taiwan October 9 for the National Centennial ceremonies October 10 where it will be presented to the President Ying-jeou Ma along with the list of activities of where the Torch has been.  He will be joined by other representatives worldwide who will be doing likewise.

History: After being educated in Hawaii and traveling to Japan, England and Canada, Dr. Sun Yat-sen returned to China where he switched from a medical career to lead the revolutionary coalition Tongmenghui (“Alliance Society”) that ended the Qing Dynasty’s imperialism in 1911.  The Kuomintang (KMT) Chinese Nationalist Party, with Dr. Sun Yat-sen as head – founded the Republic of China (ROC). He became the President in 1912 and brought inYuan Shikai who later headed the northern government while Dr. Sun Yat-sen led the KMT in the south. Yuan Shikai became President in 1913, but was ousted as dictator who declared himself Emperor of China. The constitutional government ended during 1916-1928 when the warlords controlled government.  By winning control of North China, the KMT was back in control.

The southern military government Dr. Sun Yat-sen established in 1917, included periods when he was head.  He appointed General Chiang Kai-shek to head the military before he passed away in 1925.  However, leadership of the Nationalist Government was in the dual party and state committees, the most powerful policy making group being the Central Executive Committee of the Kuomintang.  The Premier was the “Chairman of the Nationalist Government” and known as “President of the National Government of the Republic of China”.

The new 1947 Constitution established a more democratic form of government based on elections. Winning the Second Sino-Japanese War, Chiang Kai-shek was elected President in 1948 through 1975 when he died.  With the KMT, he enacted a liberal democratic Constitution following Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s last stage of national development. However, because of WWII and the Chinese Civil War, the ROC lost control of mainland China to the Communist Party known as the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in 1949.

As a member of the United Nations since 1971, the PRC soon changed from socialism to capitalism.  Market-based economic reforms since 1978 quickly developed the PRC known as “China” into an economic power.

The election for the 13th term President and Vice-President, and the legislators of the Republic of China (Taiwan) will be held on January 14, 2012.  It will be the 5th direct election for the President.  Incumbent President Ying-jeou Ma (m) of the Kuomintang Party will be running against Ing-wen Tsai (f) of the Democratic Progressive Party.  Current Vice President is fmr. Premier Vincent Siew.