Taiwan's return to China: An integral part of the post-WWII international order

Editor's Note: As 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, CGTN presents "Forging a Peaceful Future," a special series of in-depth news analyses. These stories delve into the history, explore the post-war world order, and highlight how China's past has shaped its sustained contributions to global peace today.

An exhibition of photographs officially opened in Taipei, southeast China's Taiwan region, on Friday, coinciding with a significant date: the 80th anniversary of Japan's announcement of unconditional surrender in World War II.

The one-month exhibition is also part of efforts by the island to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and Taiwan's restoration to China.

On October 25, 1945, the ceremony to accept Japan's surrender in the Taiwan Province of the China war theater of the Allied powers was held in Taipei. From that point on, China recovered Taiwan de jure and de facto.

Taiwan's restoration to China is a victorious outcome of WWII and an integral part of the postwar international order, said Chinese President Xi Jinping in a signed article in May.

"No matter how the situation on the Taiwan island evolves or what troubles external forces may make, the historical trend toward China's ultimate and inevitable reunification is unstoppable," said Xi.

The recovery of Taiwan

Since Japan forcibly seized Taiwan in 1895, a determined Chinese effort to reclaim the island had begun, securing its de jure and de facto return to China in 1945.

In July 1894, Japan launched a war of aggression against China. In April 1895, the defeated Qing government was forced to cede Taiwan and the Penghu Islands to Japan.

During the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression from 1931 to 1945, China's Communists called for the recovery of Taiwan. Talking with American journalist Nym Wales on May 15, 1937, Mao Zedong said that China's goal was to achieve a final victory in the war – a victory that would recover the occupied Chinese territories in Northeast China and to the south of the Shanhai Pass, and secure the liberation of Taiwan.

On December 9, 1941, the Chinese government issued a declaration of war against Japan. It proclaimed that all treaties, conventions, agreements, and contracts regarding relations between China and Japan had been abrogated and that China would recover Taiwan and the Penghu Islands.

The Cairo Declaration issued by China, the United States and the United Kingdom on December 1, 1943, stated that it was the purpose of the three allies that all the territories Japan had stolen from China, such as Northeast China, Taiwan and the Penghu Islands, should be restored to China.

China, the United States and the United Kingdom signed the Potsdam Proclamation on July 26, 1945, and was subsequently recognized by the Soviet Union. The proclamation reiterated that "the terms of the Cairo Declaration shall be carried out."

In September of the same year, Japan signed the instrument of surrender, in which it promised that it would faithfully fulfill the obligations laid down in the Potsdam Proclamation.

On October 25, 1945, the Chinese government announced that it was resuming the exercise of sovereignty over Taiwan, and the ceremony to accept Japan's surrender in the Taiwan Province of the China war theater of the Allied powers was held in Taipei.

From that point forward, China had recovered Taiwan de jure and de facto through a host of documents with international legal effect.

'Taiwan independence' attempts pose a challenge to the international order

Today, the international community overwhelmingly recognizes Taiwan as part of China, with 183 countries supporting the one-China principle.

However, since taking office, Taiwan leader Lai Ching-te has openly challenged the international community's fundamental adherence to the one-China principle and the post-WWII international order.

In expounding on China's position regarding Lai's assumption of office on May 20, 2024, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned that separatist attempts for "Taiwan independence" constitute the most serious challenge to the post-WWII international order.

Xin Ping, a commentator on international affairs, said that Taiwan's status as part of China is upheld through the sacrifices during World War II, enshrined in international law, and reaffirmed by the United Nations.

As this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the World's Anti-Fascist War, it is imperative to remember the hard-won lessons of that warring era, he wrote in April. "The Cairo Declaration and Potsdam Declaration are not mere diplomatic formalities, but pillars of the postwar international order."

Wang Yingjin, director of the cross-Straits relations research center of the Renmin University of China, said Taiwan's return to China is a key outcome of the victory against fascism of China as the main Eastern theater of WWII.

"Taiwan independence" separatists are acting absurdly by attempting to invalidate such international legal documents as the 1943 Cairo Declaration and the 1945 Potsdam Proclamation, Wang wrote in May.

Given the current international landscape, upholding Taiwan's return to China as a key outcome of the post-war international order is critical for maintaining peace and stability in the region and the world, he said.