National People’s Congress Standing Committee says designation strengthens ‘international community’s commitment to the one-China principle’.
Beijing has formally designated October 25 as the day to commemorate Taiwan’s restoration, as it again asserts its sovereignty over the self-ruled island.
The National People’s Congress Standing Committee, the country’s top legislative body, ratified the decision on Friday.
State news agency Xinhua reported that commemorative events would be held on Saturday, the 80th anniversary of the surrender of the Japanese forces in Taiwan to the then ruling Kuomintang (KMT).
The surrender ended Japan’s 50-year occupation of the island, which began in 1895 with the defeat of China’s Qing government in a conflict launched by Japan. The defeat forced the Qing government to cede Taiwan and the Penghu Islands to Tokyo.
In 1949, the KMT fled to Taiwan after losing to the communists in China’s civil war.
“The restoration of Taiwan is an important outcome of the war of resistance and compelling proof of the Chinese government’s recovery of sovereignty over Taiwan,” the NPC was quoted as saying.
Establishing the commemoration day would “help underscore the indisputable historical fact that Taiwan is an inseparable part of China” and “strengthen the international community’s commitment to the one-China principle”, it added.
“It is also an important part of the historical fact and legal chain that Taiwan is an integral part of China, and a shared glory and national memory for compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait,” it said.
Beijing sees Taiwan as part of China to be reunited by force if necessary. Most countries, including the US, do not recognise Taiwan as an independent state, but Washington is opposed to any attempt to take the self-ruled island by force and is committed to supplying it with weapons.
Cross-strait tensions have run high since William Lai Ching-te of the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party was elected the island’s leader last year.
Beijing has labelled Lai a separatist, ramping up military and political pressure on Taiwan.
For at least the past 40 years, Beijing has held commemorative events nearly every five years and invited some Taiwanese representatives to take part. A fourth-ranking official from Beijing attended the events in 2015 and 2020.
On Wednesday, the Taiwan Affairs Office in Beijing said it would invite guests from Taiwan to attend this week’s commemoration.
However, the DPP has warned the Taiwanese public against attending the anniversary celebrations, seeking to prevent support for what it has described as Beijing’s propaganda efforts targeting Taiwan.
About the Author
