The Chinese mainland has strongly criticized a Taiwan-based historical institution for revising language about World War II events, reigniting debates over historical narratives across the Taiwan Strait. Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, accused the island's Academia Historica of distorting facts by describing the 1945 victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression as "the end of the Sino-Japanese War and post-war handover."
"This wording whitewashes Japanese militarist crimes and denies the justice of China's resistance," Zhu stated during a Wednesday press briefing. She emphasized that Taiwan's return to China marked a pivotal outcome of the war, achieved through "the united struggle of all Chinese people, including our Taiwan compatriots."
The spokesperson urged residents of Taiwan to protect this historical consensus and oppose what she called "separatist forces" seeking to divide the nation. The remarks come as cultural connections persist across the strait, with Zhu noting many Taiwan residents have viewed mainland-produced documentaries about Japanese wartime atrocities.
Historical interpretation remains a sensitive issue in cross-strait relations, with Beijing viewing Taiwan's post-1949 administrative bodies as lacking authority to redefine shared national narratives. Analysts suggest such disputes underscore broader tensions over cultural identity and political allegiance.
