October 14, 2015
No. 55
Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Andrew Hsia led a MAC delegation to visit the Huanghuagang Mausoleum of the 72 Martyrs, Generalissimo Sun Yat-sen's Mansion and other sites of deep historical significance in Guangzhou this afternoon (October 14, 2015). The delegation also visited Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU) and Buynow Computer Mall in Guangzhou, interacted and held exchanges with students of the two sides, learned about the status of Taiwanese business operations, and expressed the government's concern for Taiwanese people in the Mainland.
At the Huanghuagang Mausoleum of the 72 Martyrs, Minister Hsia and the MAC delegation first attended a memorial service for the martyrs who sacrificed their lives in the Huanghuagang Uprising in Guangzhou a century ago. He expressed gratitude to the martyrs for saving the nation from turmoil and setting the stage for the founding of the Republic of China (ROC).
After the memorial service, Minister Hsia presented a speech at the front plaza of the martyr's mausoleum. He said that, in the third lunar month of 1911, ROC founding father Dr. Sun Yat-sen launched the 10th Revolution, also known as the Huanghuagang Uprising. Although the uprising failed, it contributed to the success of the Xinhai Revolution and the overthrow of the Manchu government, setting the stage for the founding of the ROC, the first democratic republic in Asia. More than a century has passed since the patriots of the Huanghuagang Uprising made their world-shaking sacrifice, yet we still remember. We dare not forget that it is due to their sacrifice that we stand here today.
Minister Hsia also mentioned that the spirit tablets of 86 martyrs of the Huanghuagang Uprising are still enshrined at the National Revolutionary Martyrs' Shrine at Yuanshan in Taipei City to honor the loyalty, bravery and integrity of these martyrs. Although there are no people from Taiwan among the martyrs of the Huanghuagang Uprising, high-minded people in Taiwan contributed funds or participated in the uprising, including Miaoli native Luo Fu-hsing and Tainan native Hsu Tsan-yuan, who were personally involved in the uprising. Lin Wei-ke, a member of the gentry Lin family in Banqiao also provided funding and participated in this important battle. Many of the Huanghuagang martyrs were youth with specialist expertise or who had studied abroad. They dedicated their individual passion to a greater cause and paid with their precious youth and life. Minister Hsia hoped that youth on both sides of the Taiwan Strait would act on the example of these martyrs so that the Huanghuagang spirit of fighting for freedom and equality and advancing democracy may be passed down to new generations on both sides.
Minister Hsia then led the delegation to the Memorial Museum of the Generalissimo Sun Yat-sen's Mansion. During the visit, he said that it is a rare opportunity to be able to visit the place where Dr. Sun Yat-sen thrice established political power. It was here that, over a hundred years ago, Dr. Sun penned the Three Principles of the People and the Fundamentals of National Reconstruction rooted in the Five-Power Constitution, providing a specific blueprint for national development. These enduring accomplishments became well-known by the people of Taiwan more than a century later. The democratic elections and development Taiwan now enjoys were rooted in concepts and ideas advocated by Dr. Sun Yat-sen. Minister Hsia said that it was deeply moving to be able to personally experience Dr. Sun's patriotic fervor at the Generalissimo Sun Yat-sen's Mansion today.
Minister Hsia emphasized that Dr. Sun made three visits to Taiwan. His ideas influenced Chiang Wei-shui, Lin Hsien-tang and other Taiwan elites of that time. Lin Tsu-mi, a member of the prominent Lin family in Wufeng, Taichung, was also moved and inspired by Dr. Sun's nation-founding spirit and democratic ideals. He followed Dr. Sun and participated in protecting the Constitution. He was also appointed by Dr. Sun as commander of the Southern Fujian Army, commander of the Ninth Detachment of the Guangdong Army, and military advisor at the headquarters of Generalissimo Sun Yat-sen. Minister Hsia described Dr. Sun as a great man, not only among the ethnic Chinese group, but also on the world stage, noting, for example, that Dr. Sun and the Three Principles of the People was repeatedly praised in the "Five Principles" proposed by former Indonesian President Sukarno.
Minister Hsia and the delegation then continued on to SYSU in Guangzhou. The group was accompanied by Secretary of the SYSU Party Committee Chen Chunsheng on a visit to Black Stone House, Martin Hall, Chen Yike's Residence, Swasey Hall and other historic buildings. During the stop at Swasey Hall, Minister Hsia asked students accompanying the group to remember the words of encouragement Dr. Sun gave to young people here in earlier times, to "resolve to do great things rather than seek to become high-ranking officials." He hoped that young people on both sides would dedicate themselves to their fields of expertise and research, while at the same time, give back to society. During the visit, Taiwanese students at SYSU shared with Minister Hsia their study experience in the Mainland. Minister Hsia also expressed the government's concern and attention for Taiwanese students’ situation while studying in the Mainland.
The delegation closed its visit with a trip to the Buynow Computer Mall invested by Taiwan's Clevo Group. Minister Hsia and the delegation learned about the group's Mainland business operations and global outlook. Minister Hsia expressed the government's care and attention for Taiwanese enterprise operations in the Mainland. He also interacted with Taiwanese employees and the public at the site to better understand views of various sides on future Taiwanese business development in the Mainland.
At noon today, Minister Hsia and the MAC delegation met and had lunch with the governor of Guangdong Province. The two sides exchanged views on cross-strait relations and economic and trade exchanges and cooperation. Minister Hsia also thanked the Guangdong Provincial Government for its assistance during the trip. Minister Hsia and the delegation heads to Dongguan tomorrow.