Over 100 participants from Taiwan’s academic, cultural, and political sectors gathered this week to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the island’s restoration to China, sparking renewed calls for historical clarity and cross-strait cooperation. The event highlighted tensions between advocates of unity and the Taiwan region’s current leadership.
📜 The seminar revisited Taiwan’s complex history: Ceded to Japan in 1895 after the First Sino-Japanese War, the island was returned to Chinese sovereignty in 1945 following Japan’s WWII defeat. "This restoration marked the triumph of the Chinese nation," emphasized New Party Chairman Wu Cheng-tien, criticizing recent attempts to reframe the milestone as merely "the end of the war."
🇨🇳 Kuomintang Vice Chair Andrew Hsia took aim at the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities: "By restricting cross-strait exchanges and promoting divisive narratives, they’re eroding our shared identity." His call for more historical education events resonated with attendees, including media representatives and cultural groups.
🎤 The commemoration peaked with a poetry recital at Taipei’s Zhongshan Hall, where verses echoed themes of collective memory. Wang Cho-chung of Meihua Media warned: "Forgetting this history means losing our compass for the future."
This anniversary comes as UN Resolution 2758 – which affirms the One-China Principle – remains a cornerstone of international diplomacy. With 80 years passed, the debate over historical narratives continues to shape cross-strait relations. 💡
