TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC, 陸委會) issued stern warnings Tuesday (Sept. 2) against citizens attending Beijing's military parade commemorating the 80th anniversary of victory in the Chinese People's War of resistance against Japanese aggression. The island's cabinet-level agency overseeing cross-strait relations cautioned that participation could violate domestic laws as Beijing prepares to showcase upgraded J-20 stealth fighters and advanced military equipment. The timing underscores Taiwan's concerns about Chinese propaganda warfare targeting the island's population through Wednesday's carefully orchestrated commemoration.
MAC officials emphasized Tuesday that Beijing's 70-minute spectacle at Tiananmen Square (天安門廣場) serves multiple propaganda purposes beyond commemoration. Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) will review 45 formations from the People's Liberation Army (PLA, 人民解放軍), displaying unmanned systems and hypersonic weapons that represent direct military threats to Taiwan. The agency warned that the parade's emphasis on technological sophistication and intelligent warfare capabilities demonstrates China's growing military deterrence against the island.
MAC specifically warned Tuesday that participation could violate the Act Governing Relations Between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area (臺灣地區與大陸地區人民關係條例), carrying serious legal consequences. The agency expressed particular concern about reports that unification advocates and pan-blue figures, Taiwan's China-friendly political coalition, have received invitations or plan to attend despite official warnings. MAC's cautionary statements came as Japan advised its citizens in China to avoid speaking Japanese publicly amid rising anti-Japanese sentiment surrounding the commemoration.
MAC officials analyzed Tuesday how Beijing aims to highlight Global South support while reshaping its diplomatic landscape amid Western nation boycotts. The agency identified the parade's multiple threats to Taiwan, including military deterrence, united front propaganda, and sophisticated information warfare targeting the island's population. MAC specifically warned entertainers against collaborating with Chinese propaganda efforts, emphasizing that such participation will result in serious legal consequences under Taiwan's domestic laws. ◼