TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan rebuked Beijing’s attempt to distort history by declaring a “Taiwan Restoration Day” on Saturday.
In a press release, Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council said the Chinese legislature’s declaration amounted to the “same old song” of falsely claiming sovereignty over Taiwan despite political reality.
On Friday, the National People’s Congress in Beijing voted to mark Oct. 25 as the day Japanese forces relinquished control of Taiwan at the end of World War II in 1945. However, the Japanese returned control to the Republic of China, not the People’s Republic of China.
In Taiwan, a national holiday to celebrate the same historical event on Oct. 25 was announced earlier this year and named “Taiwan Retrocession Day.” Taking a cue from Taipei, Beijing announced “Taiwan Restoration Day” to muddy the historical narrative, implying the Japanese ceded control to the PRC.
Speaking at the Great Hall of the People on Saturday, China’s top ideologue, Wang Huning, said Beijing still adheres to the “one country, two systems” proposal for Taiwan and would continue to pursue peaceful means rather than force, reported UDN.
Following Beijing’s crackdown in Hong Kong beginning in 2019, “one country, two systems” was widely discredited by critics who said China broke its promises to Hong Kong and the United Kingdom. Wang was tapped by Xi Jinping in 2023 to manage China’s Taiwan policy amid speculation the era of “one country, two systems” was ending.
When outlining his Taiwan strategy in May 2023, Wang announced “New Concepts, New Thoughts, and New Strategies to usher in a New Era,” with no mention of “one country, two systems.” His remarks on Saturday touting “one country, two systems” suggest efforts to rethink cross-strait policy have not taken hold.
In its press release, the MAC said the PRC has never administered Taiwan and accused Beijing of fabricating history.
The MAC also rejected Chinese propaganda targeting Taiwan, such as “one country, two systems,” the one-China principle, and the so-called “1992 consensus.” Together, these constitute a “three-in-one” cross-strait policy designed to belittle Taiwan and exclude it from international affairs, the council said.
Public opinion in Taiwan is firmly against China’s distortions of historical facts, the MAC added. Taipei rejects any unilateral attempt by Beijing to undermine or attack Taiwan’s democratically elected government, it said.
Taiwan called on the Chinese Communist Party to cease coercive policies and engage in good-faith dialogue to ensure peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.
