Propaganda in the Republic of China
Encyclopedia
Propaganda has been an important tool of the Republic of China government since its inception in 1912. It also was an important tool in legitimizing the Kuomintang controlled Republic of China government that retreated from Mainland China to Taiwan in 1949.
Propaganda during the Republican Era on Mainland China
Because the national government of this time was weak, it was difficult for any censorship or propagandistic measures to be carried out effectively. However, a bureau was set up to control the production and release of film in China. Also, newspapers unfavorable to the central government could be harassed at will. Propaganda of this time was directed against the Communists and the Japanese.
Propaganda of the Republic of China
One of the main tools for disseminating propaganda in Taiwan
has been the Government Information Office
and the various media properties controlled by the Kuomintang
and the government. Besides controlling commercial TV
and radio stations, there also exists a police radio station that often broadcast "educational" plays with propagandistic value and a film bureau. After the Kuomintang fled to Taiwan, propaganda through public education in Taiwan was an important tool in creating a Chinese national identity among Taiwanese, and preparing the people for "a counter-offensive" against the PRC. Although the government is now democratic, the legacy of authoritarian rule has created a confusion of identity in Taiwan, with many adults having grown up thinking that the ROC was going to launch a "counter-offensive" against the PRC and with Mandarin becoming the most common language. Previously, the people were educated in the evils of the Communists, and the good of the Nationalists, with many Taiwanese remembering lore taught in elementary school on the wisdom of Chiang Kai-shek
.
The Kuomintang also published numerous publications following their retreat to Taiwan, including the Free China Journal
. Its popularity soared as the editors and writers analyzed political situations at the time, sometimes even advising or criticizing the government in earnest.
Occasionally, the ROC has attempted to spread propaganda
in PRC-controlled areas, usually in the form of leaflet drops over coastal provinces, calling for the locals to rebel against CPC rule, accompanied by promise that the ROC will one day liberate the mainland. This proved to be ineffective and after several years was largely discontinued.
Today, a democratic Taiwan has passed a law to abolish the Government Information Office and replace it with a National Communications Commission
, styled after the FCC in the United States. The Kuomintang still controls many media properties, though its influence is much less than before. Ironically, the Kuomintang is today the more pro-China leaning of the two main political parties in Taiwan. The GIO today still provides some subsidies for films, but for cultural rather than political reasons. Most films in Taiwan today are Hollywood movies and theaters are all commercially run for-profit enterprises.
Propaganda during the Republican Era on Mainland ChinaMainland ChinaMainland China, the Chinese mainland or simply the mainland, is a geopolitical term that refers to the area under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China . According to the Taipei-based Mainland Affairs Council, the term excludes the PRC Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and...
, 1912-1949
Because the national government of this time was weak, it was difficult for any censorship or propagandistic measures to be carried out effectively. However, a bureau was set up to control the production and release of film in China. Also, newspapers unfavorable to the central government could be harassed at will. Propaganda of this time was directed against the Communists and the Japanese.Propaganda of the Republic of ChinaRepublic of ChinaThe Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
on Taiwan, 1949–present
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
has been the Government Information Office
Government Information Office
The Government Information Office is a cabinet-level agency of the Executive Yuan of the Republic of China in charge of promoting government policies and regulating domestic media.-History:...
and the various media properties controlled by the Kuomintang
Kuomintang
The Kuomintang of China , sometimes romanized as Guomindang via the Pinyin transcription system or GMD for short, and translated as the Chinese Nationalist Party is a founding and ruling political party of the Republic of China . Its guiding ideology is the Three Principles of the People, espoused...
and the government. Besides controlling commercial TV
Chinese Culture and Movie Center
The Chinese Culture and Movie Center is a former movie studio and tourist attraction located in the Shilin District of Taipei, Taiwan. It is owned by the Republic of China Central Motion Pictures Company. In its early period, it functioned as a film and TV drama filming location and studio...
and radio stations, there also exists a police radio station that often broadcast "educational" plays with propagandistic value and a film bureau. After the Kuomintang fled to Taiwan, propaganda through public education in Taiwan was an important tool in creating a Chinese national identity among Taiwanese, and preparing the people for "a counter-offensive" against the PRC. Although the government is now democratic, the legacy of authoritarian rule has created a confusion of identity in Taiwan, with many adults having grown up thinking that the ROC was going to launch a "counter-offensive" against the PRC and with Mandarin becoming the most common language. Previously, the people were educated in the evils of the Communists, and the good of the Nationalists, with many Taiwanese remembering lore taught in elementary school on the wisdom of Chiang Kai-shek
Chiang Kai-shek
Chiang Kai-shek was a political and military leader of 20th century China. He is known as Jiǎng Jièshí or Jiǎng Zhōngzhèng in Mandarin....
.
The Kuomintang also published numerous publications following their retreat to Taiwan, including the Free China Journal
Free China Journal
Free China Journal was a periodical that was published by the Republic of China government after its retreat to Taiwan following the Chinese Civil War....
. Its popularity soared as the editors and writers analyzed political situations at the time, sometimes even advising or criticizing the government in earnest.
Occasionally, the ROC has attempted to spread propaganda
Voice of Han
Voice of Han Broadcasting Station also known as Voice of Han Chinese Broadcasting Station was founded in 1942 by the Ministry of National Defense. It is headquartered on Xinyi Road in the Zhongzheng District of Taipei, Taiwan...
in PRC-controlled areas, usually in the form of leaflet drops over coastal provinces, calling for the locals to rebel against CPC rule, accompanied by promise that the ROC will one day liberate the mainland. This proved to be ineffective and after several years was largely discontinued.
Today, a democratic Taiwan has passed a law to abolish the Government Information Office and replace it with a National Communications Commission
National Communications Commission
National Communications Commission of the Republic of China is responsible for regulating the development of the communications and information industry, promoting competition, consumer protection, licensing, radio frequency, spectrum, broadcasting, content regulation, communications standards and...
, styled after the FCC in the United States. The Kuomintang still controls many media properties, though its influence is much less than before. Ironically, the Kuomintang is today the more pro-China leaning of the two main political parties in Taiwan. The GIO today still provides some subsidies for films, but for cultural rather than political reasons. Most films in Taiwan today are Hollywood movies and theaters are all commercially run for-profit enterprises.
Famous Propaganda Songs
- Five Flags of the Republic
- How Great Is Our ChinaHow Great is Our China"How Great is Our China!" was an unofficial anthem of the Republic of China.Also called "Patriotic Song" , "How Great is Our China!" has lyrics written by Liang Qichao and music by overseas Chinese in Datong School , Yokohama...
- China Stands Heroically in the Universe
- The Song to the Auspicious Cloud National Revolutionary Song
- National Anthem of the Republic of ChinaNational Anthem of the Republic of China"National Anthem of the Republic of China" is the current national anthem of the Republic of China .The Republic of China was recognized as the government of mainland China prior to 1949. Since then the Republic of China has controlled Taiwan and some other nearby islands...
- National Banner SongNational Banner SongThe "National Flag Anthem" of the Republic of China is played during the raising and lowering of the Flag of the Republic of China...
- March of the VolunteersMarch of the VolunteersMarch of the Volunteers is the national anthem of the People's Republic of China , written by the noted poet and playwright Tian Han with music composed by Nie Er. This composition is a musical march...
- 800 Heroes Song800 Heroes SongThe "800 Heroes Song" is also known by the title "China Will Not Perish". This song is written to commemorate the heroic efforts of the Lone Battalion of the National Revolutionary Army in the Defense of Sihang Warehouse during the final stage of the Battle of Shanghai .After winning the war of...
- Dadao MarchDadao MarchThe Dadao March is a patriotic song sung in China during the Second Sino-Japanese War when Japan invaded China in 1937. It is also commonly known as Cut the devil's head off with the Dadao , where the term devil commonly referred to the Japanese invaders...
- On Songhua RiverOn Songhua River"On Songhua River" is a patriotic song from the Second Sino-Japanese War, which is called the War of Resistance in both the Republic of China and the People's Republic of China.-History:...
- Guerillas' SongGuerillas' SongThe Guerillas' Song is a patroric song in Second Sino-Japanese War.The song describes the guerrilla fighters of the Chinese Communist Party. It was written and composed musiced by He lüting...
- Marshal Training Soldier Song
- NanniwanNanniwanNanniwan is a revolutionary song written in 1943 with lyrics by communist playwright and poet He Jingzhi and music by Ma Ke. It was made popular by the Communist Party of China and continues to be one of the most recognisable songs in the People's Republic of China.Nanniwan is a gorge about 90km...
- The Plum BlossomThe Plum BlossomThe Plum Blossom is a patriotic song of the Republic of China written for the Taiwan film Victory by its director Liu Chia Chang . Chiang Wei-kuo soon rearranged it into The Plum Blossom March . The flower was adopted as the National Flower of the Republic of China on July 21, 1964...
- Chiang Kai-shek Memorial SongChiang Kai-shek Memorial SongThe Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Song was written to commemorate the late President Chiang Kai-shek of the Republic of China. There are two songs, the second song was written by Hwang Yau-tai or Huang Youdi, Huang Yu-ti in 1975, who later also wrote Chiang Ching-kuo Memorial Song in 1988...
- Taiwan Is Good
See also
- Cinema of ChinaCinema of ChinaThe Chinese-language cinema has three distinct historical threads: Cinema of Hong Kong, Cinema of China, and Cinema of Taiwan. Since 1949 the cinema of mainland China has operated under restrictions imposed by the Communist Party of China's State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television and...
- Cinema of TaiwanCinema of TaiwanThe history of Chinese-language cinema has three separate threads of development: Cinema of Hong Kong, Cinema of Mainland China and Cinema of Taiwan . Taiwanese cinema grew up outside of the Hong Kong mainstream and the censorship of the People's Republic of China.Taiwanese cinema is deeply rooted...
- Propaganda in the People's Republic of ChinaPropaganda in the People's Republic of ChinaPropaganda in the People's Republic of China as interpreted in Western media refers to the Communist Party of China's use of propaganda to sway public and international opinion in favor of its policies. Domestically, this includes censorship of proscribed views and an active cultivation of views...
- Radio Taiwan InternationalRadio Taiwan InternationalRadio Taiwan International is the English name and call sign of the international radio service, the Central Broadcasting System of the Republic of China, commonly known as Taiwan...
- Voice of Free ChinaVoice of Free ChinaThe Voice of Free China was the international broadcasting station of the Republic of China from 1949 until 1998. During the Cold War era the station was the source of Chinese Nationalist propaganda largely aimed at discrediting the People's Republic of China and buttressing the Nationalists'...