| Image Alt2: | The flag of The General Association of the Scouts of China |
| Scouts of China | |
| Headquarters: | Hall of the Scouts of China |
| Location: | Zhongshan District, Taipei |
| F-Date: |
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| Founder: | Yen Chia-lin (嚴家麟) |
| Members: | 53,972 (2021) |
| Chiefscouttitle: | Chief Scout |
| Chiefscout: | President Lai Ching-Te (賴清德) |
| Chiefscouttitle2: | Chairman |
| Chiefscout2: | Cheng Wen-tsan |
| Affiliation: | World Organization of the Scout Movement |
| Pattern Head: | baseball cap |
| Color Head: | D2B48C |
| Pattern Body: | shirt long sleeves |
| Color Body: | D2B48C |
| Pattern Legs: | trousers |
| Color Legs: | 000000 |
The Scouts of China or the General Association of the Scouts of China (Taiwan) in full, is the national Scouting association of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and represents the Scouting organization in Taiwan. It is a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement. In 2021, the Scouts of China had 53,972 members.[1]
Following the birth of the Republic of China, the first Scout troop was organized by Reverend Yen Chia-lin in Wuchang on February 25, 1912, and the Scouting movement spread rapidly all over the country.[2]
The General Association of the Scouts of China was formally established in Nanking, the former capital of the Republic of China in 1934, and became a member of the International Scout Bureau in 1937.[3] [4] Many Scouts actively participated in the Second Sino-Japanese War from 1937 to 1945.
There were 570,000 registered members in 1941.[2]
Japanese military authorities did not consistently encourage the Scouting movement in occupied territories. Where local conditions were favorable, authorities would permit local Scouting or introduce Japanese-style Scouting, or Shōnendan, and sometimes even made this compulsory. On the other hand, where conditions were not favorable, and anti-Japanese sentiments were likely to be nurtured through Scouting, the authorities would prohibit it entirely. Taiwan was a colony of the Empire of Japan from 1895 until 1945, and Taiwan Boy Scouts/Shōnendan and other forms of pro-Japanese youth education had been introduced. Conversely, a number of Taiwanese boys were formed into a Shōnendan-style boy corps called Taiwan Shaoniantuan from 1939 through the 1940s to assist in Chinese resistance in the Second Sino-Japanese War.[5]
In 1945, Chinese administration of Taiwan began. A few years later, in 1949 the ROC government withdrew to Taiwan, where it remains today. However, Scouting has continued in Taiwan to this day under the name of the Scouts of China.[2] [4] [6]
There are five programs or sections in the Scouts of China.[7] They are Beaver Scout (稚齡童軍), Cub Scout (幼童軍), Scout (童軍), Senior Scout (行義童軍) and Rover Scout (羅浮童軍).
Beaver Scout is served for the children aged 6 to 8 including three ranks: Star (星星), Moon (月亮) and Sun (太陽).
Cub Scout is served for the children aged 8 to 12 including four ranks: Anor now, Scouts of China are promoting the development of Sea Scouts.[8]