TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Mainland Affairs Council Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) warned officials on Thursday not to visit China for events marking the end of Japanese rule in Taiwan 80 years ago.

Retrocession Day is a former annual public holiday in Taiwan and falls on Oct. 25. It marks the end of World War II and Japanese occupation (1895-1945).

Reuters reported the government has called on officials, students, and teachers not to support China’s events marking the anniversary, asking them to “put the national interest first.”

Chiu accused China of trying to hijack the narrative and claim it was responsible for victory against Japan in World War II. He called this a “false narrative.”

Chiu added China is doing this to push its spurious claim that Taiwan belongs to China. “The ultimate goal is to eliminate the Republic of China and annex Taiwan,” he was quoted as saying.

Taiwan’s annual LGBTQ+ march through the streets of Taipei will go ahead on Oct. 25. Taiwan Pride is the biggest gay pride event in Asia.