Advocates call for change in the education of the San Francisco Treaty
Taking Back Our History: Pro-Independence Parties Petition for Honest Education on Taiwan's Sovereignty
By Jason Pan / Staff reporter
In the heart of Taipei, pro-independence political parties gathered yesterday, armed with a petition for the Ministry of Education, demanding school curricula that accurately reflect Taiwan's unique history and sovereignty. At the center of the controversy? The Treaty of San Francisco, a political time bomb that continues to unfold in 21st-century Taiwan.
"Taiwan belongs to the Taiwanese," the parties declared at a press conference celebrating the 73rd anniversary of the treaty's enactment on April 28, 1952. They denounced the so-called "myth of Taiwan retrocession," a historical narrative pushed by the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT)—and accepted by many—claiming Taiwanese sovereignty was transferred to the KMT after World War II.
Chairman Deh Tzutsai of the Sovereign State for Formosa and Pescadores Party explained the complicated issue: under the Treaty of San Francisco, Japan renounced its claim to Taiwan but did not transfer sovereignty to any party—not even the KMT. Deh called the KMT's subsequent claims a "big lie," accusing them of distorting history and undermining the Taiwanese people's identity.
"The KMT forced us to identify as Chinese," Deh said. "It poses a grave danger, since Beijing claims to be the successor to the Republic of China [ROC] and that Taiwan is a province of China, and would use it to justify using force to annex Taiwan."
Activist Lee Wen-pin joined the chorus, emphasizing a full examination of postwar treaties reveals that Taiwan does not belong to China. He accused the KMT of deceiving the public for decades about Taiwanese sovereignty.
"The ROC remains an illegal occupying regime," Lee stated pointedly.
Taiwan's pro-independence parties aren't alone in this fight. Activists across the island have been vocal in their demands for Taiwan's right to self-governance, a right they say is supported by the historical ambiguity surrounding the Treaty of San Francisco. By rejecting the KMT's historical interpretations, particularly regarding the Cairo Declaration, these activists seek to clarify Taiwan's place on the global stage.
Those demanding a reexamination of Taiwan's history face an uphill battle. The ROC's stance on the Treaty of San Francisco continues to shape the island's official narrative, fueling the perception of Taiwan as a part of China rather than a distinct entity. Yet, activists remain undeterred, determined to carve out a space for Taiwan's 23 million people to decide their own future—free from Beijing's interference.
[1] Taiwan Today. (2021, May 6). Independent Taiwan Not Recognized by China or the World: Tsai. Taiwan Today. https://www.taiwan today.tw/News/taiwan/archives/20210505/Art20210505100611
[2] Department of State. (n.d.). Treaty of Peace with Japan. U.S. Department of State. https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/bo/ps/3611.htm
[3] Council on Foreign Relations. (2019, October 14). The Taiwan Question. Council on Foreign Relations. https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/taiwan-question
[4] Chung, H. W., & Galloway, A. (2016, June 1). Taiwan's 2016 Presidential Election: What Matters Most? The Diplomat. https://thediplomat.com/2016/06/taiwans-2016-presidential-election-what-matters-most/
[5] Cheng, T. C. (2020, August 31). China and Cross-Strait Relations: Taiwan's Domestic and External Challenge. Asia Policy, 173. https://www.csis.org/files/publication/20200831_AsiaPolicy_Cross-Strait_Relations_Cheng.pdf
- Pro-independence political parties in Taiwan, including the Sovereign State for Formosa and Pescadores Party, are advocating for school curricula that fairly represent Taiwan's history and sovereignty, focusing on the Treaty of San Francisco signed in 1952.
- The Treaty of San Francisco, which resulted in Japan's renunciation of its claim to Taiwan but no direct transfer of sovereignty, has been a contentious issue in Taiwanese politics, with the Chinese Nationalist Party pushing a narrative of Taiwanese retrocession.
- Taiwanese activists, such as Lee Wen-pin, have called the KMT's interpretation of the Treaty of San Francisco as deceptive, undermining the Taiwanese people's identity and self-development.
- Continuing battle over the Treaty of San Francisco's implications for Taiwan's sovereignty is part of a larger struggle for Taiwan's right to self-governance and education policy, with activists seeking to distinguish Taiwan from China in war-and-conflicts, policy-and-legislation, and politics.
- Taiwanese pro-independence parties and activists argue for learning the accurate historical context, emphasizing lifelong-learning and the importance of understanding Taiwan's unique position in general-news and international relations.
- Faced with opposition from the ROC, which continues to uphold the Treaty of San Francisco as supporting its claim on Taiwan, pro-independence activists remain resilient, seeking to create a space for Taiwan's 23 million people to decide their future without influence from Beijing.
