Transcending Divides: Huang Shunxing's Impact on Taiwan's Political Transformation

This presentation delves into Huang Shunxing's (1923-2002) political journey, a key figure in Taiwan's post-war opposition. Later, he relocated to China for political pursuits. Focus is on how he reinterpreted Taiwan's history under Japanese colonialism and Kuomintang's oppressive rule, and his post-war political activities. Huang, born in Changhua County, Taiwan, during the Japanese occupation, was educated at Yabe Agricultural School in Kumamoto, Japan. His Shanghai experiences exposed him to Japan's military actions in China. Post-WWII, he returned to Taiwan, getting involved in the 228 Incident, a Nationalist government crackdown on Taiwanese. From the late 1950s, Huang was active in the "Tangwai" or outside-the-party movement. He ran for elections independently, serving in various roles, including Taitung County council member, its 5th Magistrate, and a legislator. In 1986, before Taiwan's martial law ended, he moved to Beijing. Starting in 1988, he joined the Standing Committee of China's 7th National People's Congress. He remained a political challenger in both Taiwan and mainland China.

This study highlights Huang's societal vision through political participation, especially during Taiwan's extended martial law and later in Beijing. It explores how opposition members interpreted and critiqued colonial-era memories and the authoritarian regime, seeking individual and collective identity. To examine the post-war Taiwanese freedom and democracy movements, amidst diverse ideologies, this analysis includes Huang's writings, other opposition activists' memoirs, and recent historical documents.

This study explores how Japanese colonialism and KMT authoritarianism have shaped the identities of Taiwanese opposition figures. It highlights how memories of past oppression were used to critique current oppressive regimes. By examining the life and actions of Huang, we gain insights into how Taiwan's pursuit of democracy influences Taiwanese identity formation, transcending ideological divides like unification or independence. This study reveals the intricate mix of historical, cultural, and political influences in shaping modern Taiwan.