Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun issued a stern rebuke of Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities during a press briefing on Friday, December 12, 2025. Guo accused the DPP of "forgetting their roots" by whitewashing Japan's colonial occupation of Taiwan from 1895 to 1945, during which he stated "innumerable crimes were committed against Chinese compatriots."
"Those who betray national sovereignty and historical truth will inevitably be spurned by the people and condemned by history," Guo declared, emphasizing Beijing's stance that Taiwan has been an inseparable part of China since ancient times.
The spokesperson specifically criticized recent DPP-led educational reforms that allegedly downplay Japanese wartime atrocities while highlighting economic developments during the colonial period. This comes amid heightened cross-strait tensions following increased military patrols near the Taiwan Strait earlier this month.
Historical analysts note that interpretations of Taiwan's complex past remain a sensitive issue in cross-strait relations. The Chinese mainland has consistently opposed any actions it perceives as promoting "separatist ideologies" in the Taiwan region.
