Why did Sun Yat-sen oppose Yuan Shikai’s attempt to restore the monarchy?

Sun Yat-sen’s opposition to Yuan Shikai’s attempt to restore the monarchy was rooted in his fundamental commitment to republicanism and the democratic ideals he championed throughout his career.

After the collapse of the Qing dynasty, Sun Yat-sen had been instrumental in establishing the Republic of China, viewing it as the necessary successor to imperial rule. Yuan Shikai, however, increasingly undermined the nascent democratic institutions, including the National Assembly, and ruthlessly suppressed the Nationalist Party (Kuomintang) when it obstructed his political ambitions.1

Yuan’s decision to declare himself emperor in 1915–16 was a direct betrayal of the republican revolution that Sun had led. For Sun, who had articulated his vision for China through the Three Principles of the People—which included democracy—the restoration of a monarchy represented a regressive and illegitimate seizure of power that threatened the nation's future. This move sowed widespread dissent, ultimately leading to a coalition of opposition that forced Yuan to abandon his imperial project shortly before his death.123