1. Early History in China and Taiwan (Pre-1949)

The Red Cross first appeared in China in 1904 during the Russo-Japanese War, when it was established as the "Red Cross Society of China" (RCSC). It expanded its operations throughout mainland China, providing medical services and disaster relief. This was the same organization that would eventually become associated with the Republic of China government.

After the Chinese Civil War, the ROC government retreated to Taiwan in December 1949, while the People's Republic of China was established on the mainland. This caused a split in many national organizations, including the Red Cross Society.

2. Post-1949 Situation

After the ROC's relocation to Taiwan, the Red Cross Society of China (RCSC) split into two factions:

• The Red Cross Society of the Republic of China (ROC) continued its operations on Taiwan and is the de facto Red Cross organization in "Formosa and the Pescadores."
• The Red Cross Society of China (PRC), based in Beijing, became the internationally recognized branch of the Red Cross for China.

Despite its continued operation in Taiwan, the Red Cross Society of the ROC is not officially recognized as a member of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). This is because, after the civil war, the IFRC recognized the Red Cross Society of China in Beijing as the legitimate representative of China. Taiwan’s diplomatic isolation due to its lack of official recognition by the United Nations and most countries has similarly affected the ROC's Red Cross organization.

3. Disassociation from the International Red Cross Movement

This lack of recognition means that the Red Cross Society of the ROC is not officially part of the international Red Cross movement, and it cannot participate in international decision-making within the IFRC or the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The PRC government has long insisted that it alone represents China, including Taiwan, in international bodies, and this policy has largely kept the ROC’s Red Cross outside of formal global participation.

However, despite the lack of official international recognition, the Red Cross Society of the ROC has continued to operate independently in Taiwan. It engages in domestic disaster relief, health services, and humanitarian assistance, similar to other national Red Cross societies.

4. Interaction with International Organizations

Though the Red Cross Society of the ROC is not formally part of the international Red Cross network, it still engages in international humanitarian efforts on an informal basis. For example:

• The Red Cross in Taiwan has historically responded to international disasters, such as sending aid to countries hit by tsunamis, earthquakes, and other catastrophes.
• There have been occasional cooperative efforts between the Red Cross Society of the ROC and international Red Cross bodies, though these are often done unofficially or under special arrangements.

One notable example is during the 1991 Bangladesh cyclone, where the Red Cross Society of the ROC provided aid to victims of the disaster. Despite its lack of official international recognition, it remains an active humanitarian organization.

5. Political Challenges

The ROC Red Cross’s political status has been a recurring issue. The PRC has opposed any attempts by Taiwan’s Red Cross to gain formal recognition or status in international forums, asserting that Taiwan is part of China. This mirrors Taiwan’s broader diplomatic struggle, where it is not recognized as a sovereign state by the United Nations or most countries.

6. Recent Developments

In recent years, Taiwan’s Red Cross has continued to function independently, focusing on local humanitarian work, such as disaster relief following typhoons and earthquakes. Additionally, Taiwan often donates humanitarian aid to other countries during times of crisis. Taiwan's ability to respond rapidly to disasters, and its contributions to international aid, have given it a good reputation, even though the Red Cross Society of the ROC remains outside the formal international system.

Conclusion

The Red Cross Society of the ROC in Taiwan operates largely autonomously from the international Red Cross system due to the geopolitical status of Taiwan. While the organization mirrors the functions of Red Cross societies around the world, it remains disassociated from the official international Red Cross and Red Crescent bodies, primarily due to the PRC's insistence on exclusive representation of China in international organizations. Despite this, the Red Cross in Taiwan plays a significant role in domestic and international humanitarian efforts, albeit with limited international recognition.

1. The Red Cross and IHL in Military Occupations

In general, one of the key roles of Red Cross organizations worldwide, including the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), is to promote International Humanitarian Law (IHL), particularly in conflict zones or situations of military occupation. According to the laws of war, military occupation triggers certain responsibilities for both the occupying power and the organizations tasked with humanitarian oversight. In such situations, the local Red Cross or international Red Cross branches are expected to promote the understanding and application of IHL principles, including the protection of civilians, the treatment of prisoners of war, and other humanitarian issues.

If significant numbers of Taiwan government officials recognized that Taiwan had come under military occupation starting on October 25, 1945 (when Japanese forces in Taiwan surrendered to the ROC military forces), the Taiwan Red Cross would theoretically have a role to play in raising awareness about IHL principles, which apply during occupations.

2. The Red Cross and the "Official" Historical Narrative in Taiwan

However, in Taiwan, there has been a long-standing and politically significant narrative promoted by the ROC government that October 25, 1945, marks Taiwan Retrocession Day -- the day Taiwan was returned to Chinese sovereignty after being ceded to Japan in 1895. According to this narrative, the ROC assumed legal sovereignty over Taiwan on that date, and there was no military occupation under international law. Instead, the government promoted the view that Taiwan "returned to the motherland" on that day, reinforcing a nationalist agenda.

This official stance contrasts with the perspective of many international scholars and researchers, who view the ROC's presence in Taiwan after October 25, 1945, as military occupation under the terms of international law. These scholars argue that Taiwan's sovereignty was not legally transferred to China on that date and that the San Francisco Peace Treaty (SFPT) of 1951/52, which did not specify Taiwan's final legal status, left the island under an unresolved status.

3. The Taiwan Red Cross and its Position on IHL

Given this politically sensitive issue, the Red Cross Society of the Republic of China (ROC), which operates in Taiwan, has historically aligned itself closely with the official ROC narrative. As a humanitarian organization based in Taiwan and associated with the ROC government, it has not openly engaged in promoting or discussing international humanitarian law in the context of Taiwan being under military occupation. In fact, the Red Cross Society of the ROC has functioned more as a disaster relief and humanitarian aid organization, and it has generally steered clear of politically contentious issues, such as the interpretation of Taiwan’s legal status after World War II.

There is no known record of the Taiwan Red Cross ever publicly addressing the legal interpretation of October 25, 1945, in terms of military occupation versus retrocession. The Red Cross in Taiwan, by aligning itself with the ROC government’s policies, has avoided contradicting the official stance that Taiwan was retroceded to China on that date.

4. Why the Taiwan Red Cross Hasn't Promoted IHL in this Context

There are several potential reasons why the Taiwan Red Cross has not engaged in promoting IHL as it relates to the issue of military occupation:

• Political Alignment: The Red Cross Society of the ROC is tightly connected to the ROC government and would be unlikely to publicly challenge the government's position on Taiwan's retrocession narrative. To do so would place the organization in a politically sensitive and potentially confrontational position.
• Domestic Focus: The Taiwan Red Cross has primarily focused on domestic issues like disaster relief, public health, and emergency response rather than addressing legal interpretations of Taiwan's post-war status.
• Lack of International Recognition: As mentioned previously, the Red Cross Society of the ROC is not part of the official International Red Cross system, and this limits its involvement in promoting international humanitarian law in the same way other Red Cross societies might. Without international standing, its role is often confined to more practical and less politically charged activities.

5. The ROC Government’s Role in Shaping the Narrative

The ROC government has been instrumental in shaping the historical narrative surrounding Taiwan’s status, promoting the idea that Taiwan was fully returned to Chinese sovereignty on October 25, 1945. As a result, the government has not supported the view that Taiwan was under military occupation, a concept that could open the door to questions about Taiwan's unresolved legal status under international law.

Conclusion

In summary, while international law would suggest that a Red Cross organization operating in a territory under military occupation should promote IHL and humanitarian principles related to military occupation, the Taiwan Red Cross has not engaged in such activities. This is largely due to its close alignment with the ROC government’s official narrative that October 25, 1945, marked Taiwan’s retrocession rather than the beginning of military occupation. Consequently, the Taiwan Red Cross has remained silent on this politically sensitive issue, and it has not publicly offered its own interpretation of the events of October 25, 1945, in terms of IHL or its subset -- the laws of occupation.