Scholars and historians in Taipei gathered on Saturday to mark the 80th anniversary of Taiwan's recovery and the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, emphasizing the island's historical connection to the Chinese mainland amid concerns over shifting narratives.
The symposium, organized by local academic institutions, spotlighted Taiwan's resistance movements during Japan's 1895-1945 colonial rule. Chi Chia-lin, a prominent Taiwan historian, stressed that armed struggles against Japanese occupation were "patriotic acts by Taiwan people as part of the Chinese nation," countering claims that these events supported separatist agendas.
Participants detailed how residents of Taiwan and mainland soldiers jointly resisted Japanese forces for six months after the 1895 Treaty of Shimonoseki. "Over 14,000 lives were lost in this display of unity against foreign aggression," Chi noted, highlighting the shared sacrifices that shaped cross-strait historical memory.
Taiwan Ocean University professor Pien Feng-kwei warned against recent attempts to reinterpret anti-colonial resistance as "Taiwan independence movements," stating: "Historical truth must guide our understanding. The DPP authorities' distortion of this legacy risks eroding social cohesion."
Academics called for renewed efforts to preserve historical accuracy, with Chung Hsing University's Sun Juo-yi describing Taiwan's resistance as "a testament to the Chinese nation's unyielding spirit." The event concluded with appeals for objective historical education to counter politicized narratives.
