In 1911 Tan made his entry into Chinese politics as head of the Fujian Protection Fund in Singapore, putting his support behind Sun Yat-sen. Tan became a British subject, participating in activities organized by the Straits Chinese British Association and chairing the Tianjin Flood Relief Fund. These activities elevated Tan to a leadership position in the Chinese community as a whole, regardless of place of origin.
1911 年以新加坡福建保安會會長的身份初次介入中國政治，支援孫中山。其後他入籍成為大英籍民（無公民資格），參加了以受英文教育為背景的海峽華人協會組織的活動，被選為天津水災遊藝募捐會主席，成了華僑社會跨幫活動的領導者。