ABSTRACT
The end of the Second World War and the defeat of the Japanese empire in 1945 marked an important turning point in Taiwanese history. After 50 years of Japanese colonial rule, Taiwan was once again returned to China and, on 25 October 1945, the Taiwan provincial government headed by Governor Chen Yi was established in Taipei. Initially, this change of sovereignty was greeted with enthusiasm by the vast majority of the island’s inhabitants, since the “return to the Chinese motherland” was generally linked to the expectation that the end of colonial rule would pave the way for local self-government and a higher degree of political participation.
