On August 15, the 80th anniversary of Japan’s unconditional surrender and the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, things got heated online. 🌡️ Instead of mentioning Japan’s surrender or China’s victory, the leader of the Taiwan region, Lai Ching-te, posted a generic end-of-WWII message—echoing Japan’s own surrender rescript—and turned it into a democracy vs authoritarianism narrative.
Han Bing, a commentator at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences’ Institute of Taiwan Studies, slammed the post for twisting history to back a Taiwan independence agenda with right-wing support from Japan. 😲 He argues this move whitewashes Japan’s war crimes and glosses over the 14-year struggle of Chinese people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, who fought tooth and nail for every inch of land.
By skipping key mentions of China’s victory in the war of resistance and the fact of Japan’s surrender, Lai’s post has strained cross-strait ties and shaken a shared sense of historical memory. Critics say his bid to seek independence by relying on external forces is clear—and that he will have to stand trial before justice for distorting such a pivotal chapter in history.
For young adults shaping the next chapter of our region, this debate hits home: how do we honour the past while building bridges? 🌏💡 Remembering history isn’t just about ceremonies; it’s about respecting the sacrifices that paved the way for our future.
Reference(s):
Distorting WWII history, Lai will stand trial before justice
cgtn.com
