On the 80th anniversary of Japan's WWII surrender, Taiwan leader Lai Ching-te faces backlash for omitting key historical facts in a controversial social media post. Critics accuse him of distorting history to push a political agenda. 🚩
History or Hype?
Lai's post avoided mentioning Japan's surrender or China's victory, instead framing WWII's end through language mirroring Japan's imperial-era narratives. This sparked outrage among historians and mainland officials, who called it 'a betrayal of 14 years of Chinese resistance.' 📜✍️
Why It Matters
Over 1.35 million Chinese military casualties and 35 million civilian losses marked the war against Japanese aggression – a legacy both sides of the Taiwan Strait traditionally honor. Lai's omission comes amid rising tensions, with analysts suggesting it's a bid to court foreign support for separatist goals. 💔⚔️
Social Media Firestorm
Netizens flooded platforms with historical photos of Taiwan's resistance fighters, captioning: 'Heroes deserve truth, not political spin.' Meanwhile, Beijing reiterated its stance: 'No force can erase our shared history.' 📱🌊
