Tang had little choice but to obey, and prepared to leave the island. However, Taiwan gentry led by Chiu Feng-chiarallied the soldiers and common people to resist the Japanese. They established the "Republic of Taiwan," and pushed Tang Ching-sung to be the president, compelling him o stay in Taiwan to lead the resistance against Japan.
唐景崧原準備離台，但以丘逢甲為首的台灣士紳卻號召軍民抗日，成立「台灣民主國」，並推舉唐景崧做大總統，強留他在台灣領導抗日。