Peace Memorial Day (和平紀念日) is a national public holiday in Taiwan, and it commemorates the February 28 Incident (二二八事件) of 1947, a pivotal and tragic event in Taiwanese history that led to decades of authoritarian rule and shaped the island's modern identity.

When is Peace Memorial Day?

Peace Memorial Day is observed every year on February 28.

The following is the list of Peace Memorial Day from 2020 to 2039.

The History of Peace Memorial Day?

After World War II, Taiwan was handed over from Japan to the Republic of China (ROC) in 1945. Under the new administration led by Chiang Kai-shek's Kuomintang (KMT) government, tensions quickly escalated between the local Taiwanese population and mainland Chinese authorities due to corruption, repression and cultural tensions.

On February 27, 1947, a confrontation between officials and a cigarette vendor in Taipei turned violent. The following day, February 28, large-scale protests and riots erupted across Taiwan.

The ROC government responded with military force, leading to a brutal crackdown that resulted in the deaths of an estimated 10,000 to 30,000 civilians and the arrest of thousands more. This marked the beginning of a period of authoritarian rule known as the White Terror, during which political dissent was harshly suppressed.

For decades, the 228 Incident was a taboo topic in public discourse. In the 1990s, during Taiwan's democratization, calls for truth and reconciliation gained momentum.

In 1995, then-President Lee Teng-hui-the first Taiwan-born president, formally apologized for the government's role in the 228 Incident. The same year, the February 28 Incident Memorial Foundation was established to support survivors and victims' families.

In 1997, the Legislative Yuan (Taiwan's parliament) officially declared February 28 a national holiday "Peace Memorial Day" to honor the victims and promote healing and democracy.