TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Wu San-lien Taiwan Historical Materials Foundation announced on Saturday (Dec. 7) that it is seeking submissions of old photos and short stories to help create a comprehensive history of Taiwan’s involvement in World War II at the Taiwan New Cultural Movement Museum.

Foundation President and National Taipei University of Education Professor Ho I-lin (何義麟) highlighted the historical suppression of Taiwan’s WWII narrative and stressed the urgency of preserving this history, per CNA. With 2025 marking the 80th anniversary of the end of the Pacific War, Ho emphasized the need to collect historical materials before they are lost.

Poet Hsiang Yang (向陽) reflected on Taiwan's history of colonization, which he said has contributed to national identity anxiety and varying interpretations of historical events. Hsiang suggested that by gathering solid historical evidence, and through the efforts of historians, Taiwanese society could eventually reach a consensus on its WWII history. He added that this project could evolve into a broader societal movement.

Taiwan Statebuilding Party President Wang Hsing-huan (王興煥) remarked that historical narratives are often shaped by differing perspectives, which influence value judgments. He advocated framing Taiwan’s WWII history as part of a Taiwanese state rather than a Chinese democratic state. Wang argued that documenting Taiwan’s wartime experience is closely tied to the ongoing struggle to define Taiwanese identity amid political and ethnic divisions.

The Taiwan Historical Materials Foundation plans to release the collection of essays in 2025, featuring 80 articles to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII. Each essay will be paired with historical photos to provide a more comprehensive understanding of Taiwan’s experience during the war.