[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 25 (Thursday, February 25, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E250-E251]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  COMMEMORATING TAIWAN'S 2-28 INCIDENT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. KENNY MARCHANT

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 25, 2010

  Mr. MARCHANT. Madam Speaker, I rise today to observe the 63rd 
commemoration this coming Sunday of Taiwan's ``2-28 Incident.'' The 
Incident was an antigovernment uprising in Taiwan that began on 
February 28, 1947, and was violently suppressed during the following 
weeks by soldiers that had been sent from China by Generalissimo Chiang 
Kai-shek. Estimates of the number of deaths vary from 10,000 to 30,000.
  In the fall of 1945, 50 years of Japanese occupation of Taiwan ended 
after Japan had lost World War II. In October of that year Taiwan was 
returned to the Republic of China (ROC).
  Due to the mounting corruption and the implementation of unfair 
public policy and official practices on the indigenous population, 
tension increased between the Taiwanese people and the ROC 
administration. According to Ambassador John L. Stuart, ``the economic 
deterioration of the island and administration of the mainland 
officials became so bad that on February 28th, 1947, popular resentment 
erupted into a major rebellion.'' The flashpoint came on the evening of 
February 27, 1947, when in Taipei a dispute between a female cigarette 
vendor and certain armed Monopoly Bureau agents and special police 
agents triggered civil disorder and open rebellion that lasted for 
days.
  The Incident is now openly discussed and commemorated as Peace 
Memorial Day. The details of the Incident have become the subject of 
investigation. Monuments and memorial parks to the Incident victims 
have been erected in a number of cities in Taiwan.
  Madam Speaker, the Incident had far-reaching implications. Over the 
next half century, the Taiwanese democracy movement that grew out of 
the Incident helped pave the way for Taiwan's momentous transformation 
to a thriving and pluralistic democracy. Nowadays Taiwan has 
demonstrated the strength of its democracy by succeeding in peaceful 
handovers of power. I am confident that Taiwan will continue to make 
contributions to the development of democracy in the region.
  Madam Speaker, I hope Members will join me in commemorating this 
important historical event.

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