Taipei: The 228 Incident was marked as Taiwan’s first significant democratic movement following World War II, Kuomintang (KMT) Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun stated on Friday, urging citizens to preserve the nation’s hard-won democratic principles. Ahead of the Feb. 28 Peace Memorial Day, Cheng emphasized that the incident was not only a tragedy but also the beginning of Taiwan’s journey towards democracy.

According to Focus Taiwan, Cheng, accompanied by senior KMT officials and representatives from civic groups, placed flowers at the 228 Peace Memorial Monument located in Taipei’s 228 Peace Memorial Park. She appealed to the public to safeguard democratic rule of law, freedom of speech, and judicial independence. Cheng characterized the incident as a consequence of state violence and misuse of power, which resulted in a legacy of oppression and bloodshed.

Cheng highlighted that Taiwan’s democratic and legal frameworks were shaped through successive democratic movements and were designed to ensure an independent judiciary. However, she expressed concerns over what she perceives as a decline in judicial neutrality, claiming that the system has become a tool against political adversaries. Cheng asserted that Taiwan’s judiciary has become a mechanism for those in power to target political opponents. She further noted that constitutional democracy necessitates limits on state authority, stressing that a constitution should restrain those in power to prevent misuse.

The 228 Incident involved civilian uprisings in Taiwan on February 28, 1947, followed by a crackdown by the then-ruling KMT government, resulting in the deaths or imprisonment of tens of thousands of people.