President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) met with a group of 228 Massacre victims’ relatives on Monday, approaching the 78th anniversary of the incident. February 28, now a public holiday in Taiwan also known as Peace Memorial Day, commemorates those massacred by Chinese nationalist forces on February 28, 1947 for large-scale protests against government corruption and repression.

Lai thanked the victims’ families for their work in overseas redress work for the 228 Massacre, and for actively speaking out for Taiwan. He also acknowledged the considerable irreparable damages and generational trauma Taiwanese society incurred as a result of the massacre, apologizing on behalf of the government.

President Lai said the government will do what needs to be done in the way of remedial measures including admitting the government’s mistakes, restoring its reputation, apologizing, compensating, investigating, setting up memorials, monuments, and more.

The government’s efforts these past years to promote transitional justice are aimed at pursuing the truth, compensation, justice, and guaranteeing that such incidents will not happen again, according to Lai, who also said that future generations will not take their democracy for granted, and will instead know that it’s a result of the blood and tears of their ancestors. He emphasized that despite efforts, transitional justice remains an unfinished task.

Lai said the government will continue to protect the people, and called on Taiwan to defend its sovereignty to assure such an incident never happens again. Regardless of ethnicity or who came first, Lai said that Taiwan belongs to those who identify with it, and that he hopes its 23 million people will unite to safeguard its democracy, freedom, and human rights, assuring a future of prosperity, peace, and stability.