From the start the Taiwanese public was vehemently opposed to this, and Taiwan declared independence. The Republic of Taiwan was established, and under their "Blue Earth, Yellow Tiger" flag the republic elected the former provincial governor Tang Jingsong president.
事發之初，台灣人民義憤填膺，宣布台灣自主，成立「台灣民主國」，以「藍地黃虎」為旗幟，推舉原台灣巡撫唐景崧出任大總統，年號「永清」。