As the 70th anniversary of the February 28 Massacre draws near, China reiterates that the Taiwanese uprising that happened on February 28, 1947, was based on separatist elements that provoked “just action,” according to an article by StraitsTimes.com.
The statements were uttered by An Fengshan, a Chinese official from the Taiwan Affairs Office, at a press conference held on Wednesday, Feb. 22, days before the anniversary.
According to An, the Feb. 28, 1947, uprising was an anti-government movement. The decision to send out Kuomintang troops to deal with the mayhem was “just action” against tyranny.
Also known as the 228 Incident in Taiwan, the February 28 Massacre heralds the start of a four-decade period of martial law in Taiwan. Over the years, it has become a focal point for the Taiwanese independence movement.
The Taiwanese government has declared February 28 an official public holiday. Several memorial events are to be held all over Taiwan to commemorate the event, one of which is a ceremony to be hosted by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government held at 228 Peace Memorial Park.
In addition to clearing out that the 228 Incident was called for, An also criticized the Taiwanese independence movement of using the occasion as a means to further their agenda of separating from China.
“For a long time, this incident has been used by certain Taiwan independence forces for ulterior motives,” An said at the press conference, as reported by StraitsTimes.com. “They have distorted historical fact, instigated contradictions based on provincial origin, tearing at Taiwan’s ethnic groups, creating antagonism in society.”
At the press conference, An also connected the decline of tourists from the mainland with the current political climate in Taiwan.
Ever since DPP party member Tsai Ing-wen, who currently acts as Taiwan’s President, refused to acknowledge the 1992 Consensus, relations between China and Taiwan have been far from warm.
“Changes in the Taiwanese authorities’ policy towards China have led to the deterioration of the environment and atmosphere of cross-strait relations, and affected the enthusiasms and willingness of mainland tourists to visit Taiwan,” An said.