ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the spirit that existed among the people during 1895 of immense change. It starts by looking at the establishment of Taiwan minzhuguo and moves on to how the island was divided between those who capitulated and those who resisted. In all communications and proclamations, the new President would sign each 'Tang Jingsong, President of the Taiwan Republic and Ex-Acting Governor of Formosa'. The maintaining of the 'ex-acting governor' arguably demonstrates that, on the surface, Tang continued to demonstrate his loyalty as a servitor of the Qing state in spite of being a significant player behind the independence movement. Using the term 'occupation' with regards to Japanese colonial governance over Taiwan is contentious one. A standard dictionary definition of 'military occupation' is essentially effective provisional control over territory that is not under formal sovereignty of that entity. Aside from the occupations of Penghu Islands in March 1895, Japanese forces landed on Taiwan proper on 1 June 1895.
