TAIPEI (TVBS News) — China's government sharply criticized Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) Thursday (Sept. 4) following his comments about Beijing's World War II victory parade held Wednesday (Sept. 3). Chen Binhua (陳斌華), spokesperson for China's Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO, 國台辦), Beijing's agency overseeing Taiwan policy, accused Lai of beautifying aggression and inciting division while ignoring Chinese sacrifices for national independence. The rebuke underscores escalating tensions between Beijing and Taiwan's democratically elected government over historical narratives and sovereignty.
Chen sternly warned President Lai that any attempt to distort the history of the Anti-Japanese War and World War II will not succeed, and actions challenging the post-war international order are bound to fail. He reiterated that unification is inevitable, underscoring Beijing's position that Taiwan is part of China and that Taiwanese people are members of the Chinese nation. Chen urged the Taiwanese to stand on the right side of history, oppose Taiwan independence, and pursue national reunification with their mainland compatriots.
President Lai, accompanied by Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) and representatives from Taiwan's Five Yuan, Taiwan's government branches, paid tribute at the Martyrs' Shrine in a separate ceremony. He emphasized Taiwan's commitment to peace, asserting that the nation does not commemorate peace with weapons but through democratic values and peaceful dialogue. The ceremony highlighted Taiwan's alternative approach to marking historical events compared to Beijing's military parade. ◼