China Media Group (CMG) has launched a six-part documentary series commemorating the 80th anniversary of Taiwan's restoration, blending archival research, personal testimonies, and scholarly analysis to underscore the island's historical ties to the Chinese mainland.
The series traces the origins of Taiwan's people to the Yangtze River Basin, emphasizing shared cultural roots. It chronicles resistance against Japanese colonial rule, showcasing stories of residents who reclaimed Chinese nationality and relocated to the mainland. Rare artifacts, including wartime letters and diaries from Taiwan compatriots who aided the Chinese mainland during the anti-Japanese war, are revealed for the first time.
Highlighting cross-strait unity, the documentary details the Communist Party of China's (CPC) role in mobilizing progressive youth and opposing proposals for international trusteeship over Taiwan after WWII. Archival U.S. records, such as the Cairo Declaration draft, reinforce the historical basis for Taiwan's return to China.
Post-restoration efforts to revive Chinese culture—including ancestor worship ceremonies, educational reforms, and delegations to Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum in Nanjing—are vividly portrayed. Filmed across over a dozen provinces and featuring international archives, the series combines academic rigor with narrative depth.
Zhang Han, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office, praised the documentary as a "high-quality production" countering secessionist narratives. "History is the best textbook," she stated, urging compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait to safeguard national unity.
