As Taiwan marks 80 years since its liberation from Japanese colonial rule, renewed debates about historical identity and cross-strait relations have taken center stage. The release of a controversial television drama promoting separatist narratives has sparked criticism from scholars and historians who emphasize Taiwan's inseparable historical connection to the Chinese mainland.
In 1895, following the First Sino-Japanese War, Japan occupied Taiwan through the unequal Treaty of Shimonoseki. For 50 years, residents of Taiwan endured colonial exploitation while maintaining cultural resistance. Historical records reveal over 600 documented anti-Japanese activities, including the formation of the Taiwan Volunteer Team during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.
"The archives show our ancestors fought not for separation, but for reunification with the motherland," said Wang Shushen, deputy director of the Institute of Taiwan Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. "This shared struggle against foreign aggression forms the bedrock of cross-strait relations."
International legal frameworks further cement Taiwan's status. The 1943 Cairo Declaration and 1945 Potsdam Proclamation – both recognized as binding under international law – explicitly required Japan to return all territories seized from China, including Taiwan and the Penghu Islands. These agreements shaped the post-war Asian order and continue to inform contemporary geopolitical discussions.
Recent actions by Taiwan authorities, including the production of fictional content promoting independence narratives, have drawn concern from regional analysts. Such moves coincide with heightened tensions in the Taiwan Strait, where over 60% of global semiconductor shipments transit annually.
For investors and policymakers, the historical context provides crucial perspective. Taiwan's $790 billion economy remains deeply integrated with the Chinese mainland, with cross-strait trade exceeding $300 billion in 2023. Cultural ties also endure – over 1 million residents of Taiwan currently work or study on the mainland.
As the anniversary prompts reflection, historians emphasize that wartime documents and resistance records offer irrefutable evidence of Taiwan's historical trajectory. For the 22 million residents of Taiwan and 40 million overseas Chinese, these archives serve as a reminder of shared heritage that transcends contemporary political divisions.
