Who is Obstructing Cross-Straits Commemorations of WWII Victory?

By Zheng Jian

Aug 30, 2025 01:23 AM

Illustration: Chen Xia/GT

Recent media reports revealed that, due to restrictions imposed by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities, a resident from the island of Taiwan who wished to watch Dead to Rights - a remarkable film set against the backdrop of the 1937 Nanjing Massacre - had no choice but to spend seventeen hours traveling to Hong Kong. Earlier, Taiwan's mainland affairs body banned officials from traveling to the mainland to attend the upcoming V-Day military parade on September 3 and other commemorative events, cautioning against veterans, celebrities and other people on the island of Taiwan participating in relevant activities.

This year not only marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. It also marks the 80th anniversary of Taiwan's recovery from Japan's occupation. Such a moment, bearing profound historical significance, ought to serve as a time for the entire Chinese nation, and for all humanity, to jointly remember history, honor the martyrs and promote the great spirit of patriotism. Yet, Lai Ching-te and other "Taiwan independence" separatists have chosen to move against the tide of history, fabricating artificial barriers on cross-Straits exchanges.

On one hand, Lai banned the mainland's film Dead to Rights and obstructed veterans from commemorating the V-Day military parade. On the other hand, he deliberately misled the younger generation's understanding of history through distorted textbooks and public remarks. In his August 15 post on Facebook, Lai invoked Japan's so-called "end-of-WWII narrative" to whitewash the aggressors while keeping silent on Japan's wartime atrocities during its colonial rule over Taiwan. Such whitewashing of aggression and inversion of historical truth exemplifies the "cultural Taiwan independence" strategy of creating an "information cocoon" to mislead the Taiwan people.

Lai's moves expose his panic and insecurity. Fearing the exposure of historical truth, he blatantly wielded the "green terror" stick to suppress legitimate historical understanding and hinder Taiwan people's pursuit of truth. This not only insults the sentiments of compatriots on the mainland but also disregards the feelings of Taiwan compatriots who yearn to know the truth, while betraying the tens of thousands of Taiwan people's enormous and desperate sacrifices against Japan's aggression. No nation or people would ever glorify the aggression of their colonial oppressors. 

Lai's ideology of "pro-Japan," "colonial nostalgia" and "seeking independence through foreign support" is eroding his support base. The heresies of "Taiwan independence" cannot withstand the just cause upheld by the entire Chinese nation and all humanity.

In recent years, a new trend has emerged in Taiwan society that transcends political divisions, with people across the spectrum seeking the truth about the War of Resistance. This year's commemorative military parade on the Chinese mainland drew wide attention on the island, as many Taiwan compatriots expressed a strong desire to come to witness the occasion in person. Such enthusiasm reflects their determination to break through the "information cocoons" and lies deliberately constructed by DPP authorities and learn the historical truth. 

The War of Resistance is a magnificent epic composed by the entire Chinese nation, with all Chinese people, including compatriots in Taiwan, and they should never be absent from these commemorations of our shared national memory. That is why it was both timely and meaningful for the Communist Party of China - serving as the mainstay of the entire nation's resistance effort - to hold a massive military parade and invite Taiwan compatriots. 

This not only allows people in Taiwan to gain a more rational understanding of the Chinese nation's war of resistance, but also lets them confront the brutal reality of Japanese aggression.

The more "Taiwan independence" separatists seek to distort history and obstruct cross-Straits exchanges, the more necessary it becomes to counter their false narratives with facts and dialogue. Only in this way can justice and truth be preserved across both sides of the Straits, allowing the memory of history to truly belong to the people.

The author is a professor at the Taiwan Research Institute of Xiamen University and the deputy director of the Study and Research Committee, China Council for the Promotion of Peaceful National Reunification. opinion@globaltimes.com.cn