PETALING JAYA: The final words of Dr Sun Yat-sen, who is the pioneer of China’s democratic revolution, still resonates today.

To Dr Sun’s great-grandson Wang Zuyao, Dr Sun’s final words: “The revolution has not yet succeeded, comrades, we still need to put in more effort,” means his ideologies have not been implemented in full.

Wang believes that Dr Sun’s revolutionary mission remains unfinished till today, while the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is still progressing.

“Many people think that after the formation of People’s Republic of China (declared by Mao Zedong) in 1949, Dr Sun’s revolution has failed. However, his revolution did not fail; it just has yet to be fully realised,” said Wang.

Wang likens Dr Sun to having two sons: his biological son – the Kuomintang (KMT) in Taiwan – and his adopted son – the Communist Party of China (CPC) in China.

The “adopted son” inherited Dr Sun’s ideology and successfully implemented many of his ideals.

Soong Ching-ling, Dr Sun’s widow, once said: “Only the Communist Party of China can realise Dr Sun’s ideals.”

While the KMT in Taiwan also aspires to achieve these goals, historical and practical constraints have made it impossible.

Full implementation of Dr Sun’s ideals would naturally lead to unification

Wang, the vice chairman of the Sun Yat-sen Peace Education Foundation, recently arrived in Malaysia to trace Dr Sun’s historical footprints in Malaysia.

This marks his first public appearance in Malaysia.

On 11 March, he will travel to Taiwan to attend the 100th anniversary of Dr Sun’s passing.

In an exclusive interview with Sin Chew Daily, Wang delved into Dr Sun’s political philosophy, the application of his Three Principles of the People in modern society, and their impact on cross-strait relations.

He stressed that if China hopes to achieve peaceful unification with Taiwan, the key lies in implementing Dr Sun’s principles in full.

“Dr Sun’s core ideology includes liberty, equality, fraternity and the three major principles of nationalism, democracy, and people’s livelihood. If the Communist Party of China can fully implement Dr Sun’s nation-building strategy, it will naturally encourage Taiwan’s return, without force,” he said.

Regardless of Taiwan’s political choices, Wang stressed that when China faithfully upholds Dr Sun’s ideology, cross-strait relations will move toward peace.

“Over the past 40 years, China has achieved remarkable economic and social progress. These achievements are rooted in Dr Sun’s industrial development plans and national development blueprint. If China deviates from this course, it risks undoing the successes of the past four decades.”

Wang pointed out that, just like in the early days of China opening its doors, the Chinese Communist Party once faced a critical decision on whether to adopt an open-market policy. Eventually, they recognised that without reformation, the country would face a huge crisis.

“Today, on the issue of national unification, a similar decision may need to be made,” he said.

Dr Sun Yat-sen’s international development of China : A blueprint for national growth

A century ago, Dr Sun passed away without witnessing the realisation of his vision for a new China.

However, Dr Sun’s dream was not merely a personal ambition but a collective aspiration of the Chinese people. A hundred years later, his nation-building philosophy has seen significant progress, particularly in China, where his ideas have laid a solid foundation for national development.

Dr Sun’s International Development of China is composed of three important works: The Fundamentals of Sun Wen’s Doctrine, The Industrial Plan and The Fundamentals of National Rights.

Among these, The Industrial Plan serves as a blueprint for national economic development, outlining strategies to leverage capital, technology, and talent to drive the growth of China’s economy.

Wang noted that although Dr Sun was once ridiculed – some even calling him “Sun the Cannon” for his ambitious ideas – China’s economic rise today validates his foresight.

“Since opening its doors, China has gradually realised Dr Sun’s industrial development plans, particularly in infrastructure and economic growth.”

He cited the Belt and Road Initiative as an example, noting that projects like the Kunming-Singapore railway were already envisioned in Dr Sun’s The Industrial Plan as early as 1919 – decades before the Communist Party of China was even established.

Xi Jinping recognises Dr Sun’s ideals, some goals already achieved

In 2016, during the 150th anniversary of Dr Sun’s birthday, president of China Xi Jinping delivered a speech at the Great Hall of the People, acknowledging that the Communist Party of China (CPC) had already realised some of Dr Sun’s nation-building strategies.

Wang played a clip of Xi’s speech, emphasising that many mistakenly believe Dr Sun’s revolutionary mission failed after 1949. However, he argued that Dr Sun’s ideologies have been implemented in many aspects, though full realisation remains a work in progress.

“China has largely achieved his vision, while in Taiwan, certain ideologies have been put into practice.”

He stressed that Dr Sun’s philosophy is not just a historical legacy but an important guide for the future development of China.

“Only by truly understanding and practicing these principles can the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation be realised,” he said.

Declining influence of Dr Sun’s ideologies in Taiwan

Wang lamented that the education system in Taiwan has gradually weakened the promotion of Dr Sun’s ideas.

“Many young people in Taiwan have never learned about the Three Principles of the People. This is partly due to the political climate, where the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) refuses to acknowledge Dr Sun’s contributions and has amended textbooks. As a result, those under 30 have little exposure to his philosophy,” he said.

Taiwan independence is unachievable

Wang pointed out that out of 198 countries in the world, almost all recognise China as the legitimate representative of the Chinese people, with only a few still acknowledging the Republic of China (Taiwan).

“This means ‘Taiwan independence’ is impossible to achieve,” he said.

He criticised the DPP for using the idea of Taiwan independence as a political tool at the expense of the people’s welfare, warning that this could lead to greater instability and danger.

“If the DPP declares an independent ‘Republic of Taiwan’ or a ‘Taiwan People’s Republic,’ which country would recognise it? No country would,” he said.

If Taiwan insists on pursuing independence, Wang warned that Beijing may resort to military action, which could escalate into a third world war.

“So how should we resolve this issue? The key lies in returning to Dr Sun’s ideals. His vision remains the core solution to cross-strait relations,” he said.

U.S. will not sacrifice for Taiwan but a geopolitical tool

Wang dismissed the idea that Donald Trump or the United States could act as a safe haven for Taiwan.

“The U.S. is using Taiwan as a tool to counter China. Its policy is driven by national interests, not a concern for Taiwan’s democracy or freedom.”

He pointed out that the U.S. relies heavily on Taiwan’s semiconductor industry, particularly TSMC, which produces 90 per cent of the high-tech chips used in U.S. defence and weapons systems.

“This means the U.S. policies focus on protecting its technological advantage, not Taiwan’s political system.”

If China were to take military action, Wang predicted that the U.S. would avoid direct intervention to prevent global conflict.

“The U.S. only cares about its own interests and will not spill blood for Taiwan.”

Path to peaceful unification lies in Dr Sun’s ideals

On cross-strait relations, Wang stressed that China must re-examine Dr Sun’s ideology as the foundation for peaceful unification.

Dr Sun’s ultimate vision, he noted, was “universal harmony for all”, a concept that extends beyond China and represents a global dream of unity and fairness.

“Dr Sun’s goal was to build a nation that helps the weak, a vision that aligns with China’s Belt and Road Initiative. By promoting global cooperation and development, China can contribute to world peace and fairness,’’ he said.

He also pointed out that Taiwan and China share cultural and linguistic ties, especially in the Fujian and Minnan dialect regions.

“The idea of a complete separation between Taiwan and China is unfounded.

“China must pursue peaceful unification based on Dr Sun’s ideals. Regardless of Taiwan’s political stance, only through peace and shared development can true reconciliation and unification be achieved.”

Dr Sun: More than a politician, a global visionary

For Wang, Dr Sun was not just a remarkable political leader in modern Chinese history, but also a visionary thinker ahead of his time.

“When I was in eighth grade, I had to give a presentation on a world leader. I chose my great-grandfather, Dr Sun Yat-sen.”

From that moment, Wang became deeply interested in Dr Sun’s philosophy, researching his works in major libraries.

One of the most astonishing discoveries for him was Dr Sun’s prediction of World War II in 1921.

“I always thought WWII started in Europe. But Dr Sun foresaw that Japan’s invasion of China would be the true beginning of the war.

“This shocked me because it contradicted what I had learned in history class, “he said.

Through studying Dr Sun’s International Development of China, Wang realised how deeply his great-grandfather had analysed China’s future and global conflicts.

“His insights went far beyond his time. It’s truly incredible!

“Which other country has had a leader with such far-sighted vision – one who could predict global events a century in advance?  Dr Sun’s ’s brilliance is not just about China’s rise; it’s about understanding the direction of world history,” he said.

Dr Sun was a Chinese physician, revolutionary, statesman, and political philosopher who founded the Republic of China after overthrowing the Qing dynasty where Dr Sun, the founder of Kuomintang, was the first president of the Republic of China in 1912.