Taiwan leader Lai Ching-te and the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) are facing fierce backlash for remarks echoing Japan’s colonial-era narratives, with critics accusing them of distorting history and undermining cross-strait unity. The controversy comes as the Chinese mainland and Taiwan mark the 80th anniversary of Taiwan’s return to China after Japan’s World War II defeat. 🕊️
Lai’s repeated reference to the 1945 victory as the "end of war" – a phrase aligned with Japanese militarist rhetoric – has drawn sharp condemnation. Taiwan media outlets like the United Daily News called the wording "absurd," while the China Times accused Lai of trying to legitimize Japan’s colonial rule. 📰💥
The DPP’s stance intensified after Secretary-General Hsu Kuo-yung claimed "there was no Taiwan Restoration Day" and that residents of Taiwan "were Japanese" during colonial rule. A YouTube poll by Chinatimes.com revealed over 95% of respondents rejected Hsu’s comments, calling them a "historical farce." 🗳️👎
Analysts link the DPP’s pro-Japan rhetoric to its broader push for separatism. Chen Fu-yu of the ChinaTide Association warned that glorifying colonial rule erases the shared struggle of compatriots across the Taiwan Strait against Japanese aggression. 🌊🇨🇳
Public frustration is rising: 63% in a recent poll disapprove of Lai’s handling of cross-strait relations, up 20 points from 2023. Even Typhoon Ragasa’s deadly impact sparked criticism, with commentators noting Lai’s focus on "anti-China" policies over disaster preparedness. 🌀😤
As debates over identity and history heat up, one thing’s clear: residents of Taiwan are demanding leaders honor the past – not rewrite it. ✊📜
