The February 28 incident in 1947 marked a critical turning point in Taiwan's modern history, igniting the Taiwan independence movement. The anti-government uprising began when Tobacco Monopoly agents clashed with civilians, leading to a man being shot and killed. The incident quickly escalated as crowds in Taipei and eventually across Taiwan protested against the Kuomintang (KMT)-led government of the Republic of China. Their grievances included corruption, inflation, and unemployment. Despite initial control by Taiwanese civilians who presented a list of 32 demands for reform, the government, under provincial governor Chen Yi, awaited reinforcements from mainland China.

Upon the arrival of reinforcements, a brutal crackdown was launched. Reports detailed indiscriminate killing and arrests by the troops. Leading Taiwanese organizers were systematically imprisoned or executed, with estimates of the total death toll ranging from 18,000 to 28,000.^[53] Some Taiwanese groups were declared "communist," leading to the arrest and execution of their members. The incident was particularly devastating to Taiwanese who had formerly served in the Imperial Japanese Army, as they were specifically targeted during the government's retaliation.

The February 28 incident had lasting political ramifications. Despite the "merciless brutality" displayed in suppressing the uprising, Chen Yi was only relieved of his governor-general duties more than a year later. He was eventually executed in 1950 for attempting to defect to the Chinese Communist Party. The events greatly fueled the Taiwan independence movement and remain a dark chapter in Taiwan-ROC relations.