By Liu Sen and Li Weichao
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, as well as the 80th anniversary of Taiwan's restoration. On October 25, 1945, the ceremony to accept Japan's surrender in Taiwan Province of the China war theater of the Allied powers was held at the Taipei City Public Auditorium (Public Hall) (later renamed Zhongshan Hall). From that moment, Taiwan, after fifty years of Japanese colonial rule, officially returned to the embrace of the motherland.
"The streets were bright with lanterns and decorations. Songs of victory filled the air. From cities to villages people sang in joy. Taiwan's restoration must never be forgotten, never forgotten, always remembered…" The Song for Commemorating Taiwan Restoration vividly expressed the joy of victory and the happiness of reunion felt by all Chinese people, including compatriots in Taiwan.
However, from Chen Shui-bian to Lai Ching-te, the DPP has consistently sought to deny the historical fact of Taiwan's restoration. The shared cultural genes and collective national memory reflected in Taiwan's restoration, along with the deep sense of belonging to one nation and the enduring Chinese spirit, serve as a mirror exposing the fallacies of the DPP's "Taiwan independence" historical narrative. It has long been a thorn for the DPP, something they find both intolerable and inescapable.
After Chen Shui-bian came to power, he first abolished "Taiwan Restoration Day" as a public holiday on the island and later replaced it with the so-called "Day of the End of the War". During her tenure, Tsai Ing-wen vigorously pursued a policy of "removing the Chinese identity of Taiwan". She rewrote textbooks and erased Chinese elements from education and public memory. Not only were celebrations of Taiwan Restoration Day discontinued, but even the Song for Commemorating Taiwan Restoration gradually faded from public awareness. Since taking office, Lai Ching-te has gone even further. He hyped up the narrative of "mutual non-subordination" across the Taiwan Strait. He has distorted the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression into a mere "the End of the War", deliberately downplaying or avoiding commemorations of key historical events such as the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. By colluding with external forces and openly challenging the authority of UN General Assembly Resolution 2758, he has recklessly peddled the notion that "Taiwan's political status is undetermined".
In fact, both the DPP and Lai Ching-te himself are perfectly well aware of these historical facts. However, for the sake of partisan and even personal political gain, they shamelessly distort the truth and manufacture the "Taiwan independence" narratives.
Lai Ching-te's father, Lai Chao-jin, was a direct witness to the atrocities committed by the Japanese invaders. In 1943, in Ruifang, Taipei County (now Ruifang District, New Taipei City), the so-called "anti-Japanese army incident in Ruifang" occurred. More than 500 local people, including coal mine owner Li Jian-xing, his family members, and miners, were arrested by the Japanese army and subjected to brutal torture in prison. By the time of Taiwan's restoration, only around 100 people had survived. As a miner in Ruifang Town at the time, Lai Chao-jin must have had searing memories of those events. Given his father's experience, it is simply impossible to believe that Lai Ching-te is ignorant of this part of history. The only explanation is nothing short of a shameless conduct of betrayal to the ancestors.
Japan's 50 years of colonial rule over Taiwan and vigorously promoted "the Kominka Movement", carrying out ideological colonization, produced a group of Japan-worshiping figures such as Lee Teng-hui and others of his ilk. After Taiwan's restoration, the process of "decolonization" was never truly completed. Now, for the sake of its own separatist agenda, the DPP disregards the well-being of the people in Taiwan, blatantly distorts and denies historical facts, and colludes with external forces in an attempt to fabricate historical and legal grounds for "Taiwan independence". Such actions have already had a deeply negative impact on the people on the island, especially the younger generation. During the election campaign, Lai Ching-te often played the "son of a miner" card to evoke sympathy, yet he turns a blind eye to the suffering of his forebears. This alone reveals his contemptible conduct and condemnable motives.
China's national reunification represents the formidable common will of the Chinese people. The restoration of Taiwan stands an important part of the historical fact and legal chain that Taiwan is an integral part of China. Our commemoration of the victory of the War of Resistance, our efforts to carry forward the spirit of the War of Resistance, and the legal establishment of Commemoration Day of Taiwan's Restoration are all meant to preserve a shared glory for compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait and a national memory shared by all Chinese. History bears witness. No distortion, denial, or manipulation by the DPP or its ilk can ever erase it.