Siege of Tainan (1895)

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Siege of Tainan
partof=Japanese Invasion of Taiwan (1895)


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date=October 18, 1895 - October 23, 1895
place=Tainan, Taiwan
casus=
territory=
result=City of Tainan Capitulated
Collapse of Republic of Formosa
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notes=The Siege of Tainan took place in October 1895, when the Imperial Japanese Army that landed in Fangliao and Budai [ [http://www.taiwanus.net/history/4/5.htm 劉永福陣前棄軍潛逃，台南淪陷 ] ] eventually made its way to encircle the city of Tainan, then capital of Republic of Formosa.

Background

After the Qing Empire signed the Treaty of Shimonoseki, officials on Taiwan opposed to the cession of Taiwan to Japan proclaimed the island to be the independent Republic of Formosa and raised forces in order to resist the impending Japanese invasion. After the Imperial Japanese Army's successful landing and occupation of northern Taiwan, President Tang Ching-sung fled the island and the former-Qing garrison commander and vice-president of the Republic of Formosa Liu Yung-fu succeeded as head of government, and used his base in Tainan as the capital of the second republic. The Japanese laid siege to Tainan on October 18, 1895 and organized armed resistance soon collapsed.

Aftermath

President Liu Yung-fu, who had been in the position for only a few months, attempted to negotiate a truce with the Japanese. However, the Japanese rejected his terms and called for Liu's surrender. Liu then fled the city on October 19 via a British merchant vessel, leaving the Tainan garrison leaderless. British missionaries informed the Japanese of this development the next day, and the city eventually capitulated on October 23.

Sources

* [http://www.taiwanus.net/history/4/5.htm Link 1 - Fangliao & Budai]
* [http://formosa.ntm.gov.tw/flag/ Natinoal Taiwan Museum - 黃虎旗的故事]
* [http://ltrc.tnc.edu.tw/modules/tadbook2/view.php?book_sn=1&bdsn=219 Link]

References