Civil groups in the Taiwan region gathered outside the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) headquarters in Taipei on Sunday, commemorating the 88th anniversary of the Lugou Bridge Incident that sparked China's full-scale resistance against Japanese aggression. Organizers emphasized the event's dual purpose: honoring shared wartime history and opposing what they called 'Taiwan independence' narratives.
Over a dozen civic associations and political groups participated in the demonstration, urging the DPP and Taiwan leader Lai Ching-te to 'learn from history.' Chi Chia-lin, honorary chairman of the Reunification Alliance Party, highlighted how Taiwan residents joined mainland forces during the war: 'More than 70 resistance acts erupted in Taiwan within a month after the 1937 incident. Young intellectuals crossed the strait to fight, united by their identity as Chinese.'
The Lugou Bridge Incident – known as the Marco Polo Bridge Incident outside China – marked the start of eight years of conflict that claimed over 35 million Chinese casualties. Participants stressed that cross-strait cooperation during this period demonstrated an 'indivisible national spirit' that should guide current relations.
'We commemorate July 7 to reignite that collective consciousness,' Chi told the crowd. 'True respect for history means opposing separatism and working toward national rejuvenation.' The event concluded with calls for enhanced cultural exchanges and mutual historical recognition across the Taiwan Strait.
