Sunday 10 October 2021

‘When Nationalist flags bedecked a Hong Kong town for Double Tenth holiday in live-and-let-live era that seems long gone’

I’m thinking that it’s nitpicking to deny — as James Wordie does below — that the “Double Tenth” (10/10, 10th October) is not Taiwan’s “National Day”. Wikipedia, FWIW, calls it Taiwan’s National Day
Still, I share James’ recollections of a more peaceful and tolerant time in Hong Kong for people of all beliefs and none; for Nationalist and Communists; for pro-dem nutters and pro-gov apparatchiks. Which the National Security Law puts paid to.
As Xi Jinping amps both the rhetoric and the threatening fly-bies, and Taiwan’s Tsai Ing-wen responds in kind. And as we note that young people in Taiwan feel more “Taiwanese” than “Chinese”.
But, calm, back to Wordie:
In recent weeks, certain senior Hong Kong officials – who must be held to higher standards than the general public – have erroneously referred to October 10 as Taiwan National Day. Since Taiwan is an integral part of China, the island – whether self-ruled (as at present) or otherwise – cannot, by definition, have its own National Day. 
Let us be clear – Double Tenth commemorates the start of the Wuchang uprising in 1911, which led to the establishment of the Republic of China the following year. Taiwan’s separatists have their own flag – not the Nationalist one; given the chance, these groups would choose a different date altogether. [Read on…]