In an election year, Taiwan’s national day becomes a polarising celebration.

Ma Ying-jeou, a former president of Taiwan, announced on Monday that he would abstain from this year’s formal National Day celebrations after charging that the administration had turned the occasion into an overt attempt to urge independence before an election.

Voters in Taiwan are very concerned about Taiwan’s identity, particularly as it relates to China, which claims the island as its own and has recently threatened to use force to seize control of it. In January, there will be a general election.

Taiwan observes October 10 as National Day to commemorate the 1911 revolt that overthrew China’s last imperial dynasty and brought forth the Republic of China.

After losing a civil war to Mao Zedong’s Communists, who established the People’s Republic of China, the republican government retreated to Taiwan in 1949. The official name of Taiwan is still the Republic of China.

Ma, who served as president from 2008 to 2016 and is a prominent figure in the Kuomintang (KMT), Taiwan’s main opposition party, claimed in a furious Facebook post that the government was paving the way for Taiwan’s independence by referring to the celebration as “Taiwan National Day,” as it has done since 2021.

He added, “I cannot watch as the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government endangers Taiwan’s safety and undermines the Republic of China.” Use your votes in the presidential election in January to oust the current administration, which violates China’s constitution and is irresponsible toward the safety of Taiwanese citizens.

Hou Yu-ih, the KMT’s presidential hopeful, lent his support to Ma: “I believe that what Taiwan and the people of Taiwan need is peace, not war.”

The DPP’s William Lai is the election favorite, while the Kuomintang, which has always supported strong ties with China, is lagging in the polls.

The DPP supports Taiwan having a distinct identity from China.

Ma’s complaint was rebuffed by Taiwan’s premier, Chen Chien-jen, a DPP member, who noted that Ma had previously participated in celebrations when the English translation was Taiwan National Day.

Chen told reporters, using the phrase the government prefers for Taiwan’s official name, “Let us come together to defend the sovereignty, freedom, and democracy of our Republic of China, Taiwan.”

On Taiwan’s national day, Tsai Ing-wen, the president, will deliver a significant address. A military parade will also take place in front of the presidential building.

Tsai and Lai have requested meetings with Beijing several times but have received no response since China considers them both separatists.