ROC Flag at the Sun Yat-Sen Mausoleum

[Steingletscher]

I was thinking about going to Sun Yat-Sen's Mausoleum for national day. Do you think it would be acceptable to have the ROC Flag with you, such as drapped over your backpack or what not while you are there? I wouldn't do it anywhere else except maybe Sun Yat-Sen University if I ever end up there. I have the flag with me, but I do not want it taken away.

[Ruben von Zwack]

I guess everybody is holding their breath and waiting for the first answer.

(I don't have one, obviously)

[gato]

How big is the flag? And what is the purpose?

If it's a small flag, it should be fine. But if it's big one, you'll at least get a lot of stares, like you would if you walked around Taipei with a big PRC flag. Not sure if the security people would bother you or not.

[OneEye]

like you would if you walked around Taipei with a big PRC flag.

There's actually a car that drives around the city sometimes flying a huge PRC flag, complete with communist slogans and speakers blaring songs like 沒有共產黨就沒有新中國. "A lot of stares," for sure.

Then again, at all the most popular tourist spots, there are people standing around with big signs that say 法輪大法好, passing out pamphlets to mainlanders. So I guess it evens out.

[Steingletscher]

The size is the standard 3x5 flag. I have no reason except to be like "hell yeah!" If I'm asked why I have it, I'll say its Sun Yat-Sen's flag. I could use a walking stick to wave it with. It would be a good photo-op though.

But to broaden the scope of the inquiry, how much is acceptable for the flag to be displayed? Both of my roommates are party members (fresh out of college young though), and both of them find it to be really cool.

[gato]

Standard 3 feet by 5 feet flag? That's sure to attract some stares. Probably not much more than stares if you are not too ostentatious about it.

[anonymoose]

I don't know the answer. But I guess it will bring you trouble. Regardless of what your intentions are (and by the way, what are they? Seems an odd thing to do), a foreigner parading around flying the ROC flag is likely to make people think you are deliberately stirring up trouble.

Anyway, it will be an interesting experiment. Please report back here after you have been deported.

[Angelina]

Is this the museum near 天安门？

[johnk]

I don't have any answers here, but I do have an opinion.

I presume you mean the mausoleum in Nanjing.

There is a thread on this forum about some guy doing jail time in China for something he did not consider to be a crime. By and large if you go to any foreign country, you can expect there to be different laws and different views on things. Flags and symbols of power are often hot topics and can spark a reaction. Unless you know the country and its laws very well, it is probably best to avoid stuff like this.

Twenty five years ago when I first came to the UK, I was genuinely shocked by one of my workmates wearing union jack shorts. I pointed out that in many countries, you would go to jail for wearing the national flag as a pair of shorts. My workmates laughed at me. Now I realize that you can wear the union flag on anything in the UK and nobody minds.

I don't know what the reaction would be in the PRC to someone carrying an ROC flag at a major national monument on a high profile day.

I certainly wouldn't do it. Though I would be interested in hearing what happens.

Good Luck!

[Ruben von Zwack]

I don't know, I'm reminded of the Björk thing. As Westerners, we're used to doing stuff "just because we feel so" and get away with a slap on the hand. But to other people in other countries, it's serious stuff.

Think about how no-one could believe Russia would actually sentence the Pussy Riot girls. But they did. So - yeah, just think about it, to you it's just something cool to do, to someone else it might be serious business.

How are "the" Chinese feeling about Taiwan these days, anyway? I was surprised when some Chinese students in my town asked me in a rather confrontational tone "are you one of those Westerners who believe Taiwan is a separate country?". They seemed disappointed when I answered something vague.

(It is, in my opinion, but I find it lame when it's so see-through that someone intends to pick a (verbal) fight).

[Singe]

I think you'll probably get away with it, my understanding is that it's a sign of Chinese nationalism these days but you never know how any individual may react. I'm sure if you do get into trouble you could probably talk your way out of it by pleading ignorance but why put yourself in that position in the first place just for the sake of 'Hell yeah'?

[Steingletscher]

I guess because the ROC still exists as a political entity in Taiwan, it is different from going to the Qing dynasty tombs with a Qing flag (and yes, you can find replications of them on the internet, hell, I want one). Now that I think about it, since it is 国庆节, the foundation of the PRC and the end of the ROC, then having a ROC flag there would be stupid. Maybe on Double 10 day when the Qing fell, or some random day with absolutely no significance, then it would still be questionable. As a foreign student, it is too easy to see 国庆节 as merely a week off.

Anyways I probably won't go there anymore as I was invited to go to Larung Gar Monastery in色达 (Sertar), way deep in the Tibetan regions of Sichuan powderkeg. I'd much rather go there, and since I'm a foreigner, I need find the best way to stay as low as possible there. I'm not so stupid as to bring a Tibetan flag, and I have no intention to ever do so. The whole question surrounding the area is a completely different one.

About the flags on clothes. I've actually seen a guy here wear a shirt that was practically the ROC flag with the white sun displayed prominently on his right breast.

[roddy]

I know you said your plans had probably changed, but I'm kind of hoping they didn't and you've got an interesting story. if you don't, just tell us about whatever you did do.

[Singe]

My guess is that he did go and got arrested and that's why he hasn't replied....

[Steingletscher]

I'm still here. The plans to 色达 were dropped at the last minute because we couldn't find a place that accepts foreigners. Such places are way more closely watched deep in the Tibetan areas, and the situations can really quickly, so it is hard to get there. I've heard the best way to get there is to hitchhike, but 国庆节 should be avoided for such an activity since all of the places to stay are usually booked before and thus very hard to find a place to stay upon arrival.

Still had plenty to do just staying in 成都。Went to a music festival, a temple just a little bit outside of town, played GTA V, and went to the hospital after crashing in a bike race.

[Lu]

I wouldn't do any of the things you're thinking about (travelling to not-quite-opened-up Tibetan areas, displaying an ROC flag in China) but I can't say I disagree with your sentiment. Be careful not to endanger anyone else in the process, keep in mind that you may be kicked out of China forever, and last but not least please keep a blog or something! People want to know what happens if you do stuff like that.