On October 25th, Taiwan commemorated the 79th anniversary of its liberation. An academic seminar titled “Joint Efforts Across the Strait for a Better Future—Commemorating the 79th Anniversary of Taiwan’s Liberation” was held in Beijing. Speakers at the event engaged in discussions on topics such as “The Historical Background and Contemporary Significance of Taiwan’s Liberation,” “Remembering the Past—Taiwan and the Motherland’s Joint Resistance,” and “Working Together for National Rejuvenation and Unification.”
In an interview with China News Service, Lai Shengliang, Vice Director of the China People’s Anti-Japanese War Memorial, stated that Taiwan’s liberation represents a significant part of the great victory in the Chinese people’s War of Resistance against Japan. He emphasized that this event highlights the historical and legal facts of Taiwan as an inseparable part of Chinese territory. He expressed his hope that the commemoration would further promote the enduring spirit of resistance, urging people across the strait to unite and work together for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
Lin Mingcong, the Chairman of the Taiwan Anti-Japanese Martyrs’ Families Association and a descendant of the Wufeng Lin family, shared via video that during the Japanese colonial period, Taiwan’s resources were plundered, and its people faced brutal treatment. He noted that the Taiwanese people engaged in a fifty-year struggle against this oppression, with countless heroes sacrificing themselves to return to the embrace of the motherland and to preserve and promote Chinese culture, describing it as “a deeply moving and sorrowful history.”
Song Shuyu, Director of the Taiwan Cultural and Historical Research Institute at Beijing Union University, pointed out that the mainstream opinion in Taiwan currently overlooks the commemoration of its liberation. She attributed this lack of interest to the DPP’s pro-Japanese stance since coming to power and its efforts to downplay the historical significance of the liberation, including renaming the day to “End of War Day” and revising textbooks. She urged the people of Taiwan to take a correct view of history to achieve recognition and a revival of sentiment.
Li Yingbo, an associate professor at Tsinghua University’s Taiwan Research Institute, criticized the DPP administration for stubbornly adhering to a pro-independence stance, which aims at severing ties with the mainland. He stressed the urgent need to awaken the long-standing patriotic spirit among the people of Taiwan, nurturing their recognition of traditional Chinese culture and national spirit, thereby promoting cross-strait integration and development.
The speakers underscored the shared bloodline between people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, noting that during significant national issues, they remain a community of shared fate, united in breath and heart. In light of unprecedented global changes, they emphasized the importance of enhancing communication, building mutual trust, and deepening cooperation to face challenges and seize development opportunities together.
“Acknowledging the irrefutable historical facts, I’ve come to understand that the two sides of the Strait are inseparable, and Taiwan’s liberation is worthy of commemoration by all people across the Strait,” remarked Wu Yitong, a Taiwanese resident in Beijing. He added that as youth on both sides strive for their personal dreams, they should also remember the responsibilities of their era and contribute to the unification cause.
The seminar was jointly organized by the China People’s Anti-Japanese War Memorial and the Beijing Taiwan Association, with assistance from the Taiwan Anti-Japanese Martyrs’ Families Association.
