80 years after Taiwan's restoration: Honoring shared history and future

Editor’s note: Zhou Wenxing, a special commentator on current affairs for CGTN, is an associate professor and PhD supervisor at the School of International Studies (SIS), Nanjing University. He writes extensively on comparative politics and international relations, with an emphasis on the Taiwan question and China-U.S. relations. Liu Haote is a research assistant at SIS. The article reflects the authors' opinions, and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

China's national legislature on Friday voted to designate October 25 as the Commemoration Day of Taiwan's Restoration.

The state will hold commemorative activities in various forms on this day, according to the decision adopted at the five-day session of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress, which opened on Friday.

Millions of people at home and abroad will keenly watch tomorrow's commemoration of the 80th anniversary of Taiwan's restoration to China after Japanese occupation. The October 25 event is meant to celebrate the restoration as well as convey to the world China's firm resolve to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and its commitment to world peace.

The nearly half-century-long resistance by Chinese compatriots in Taiwan who defended their homeland against foreign invasion and embodied the enduring national spirit stands as a remarkable chapter in modern Chinese history. In the face of Japan's brutal aggression and atrocities, the people of Taiwan displayed extraordinary courage and self-sacrifice, building a "Great Wall" of resistance and striving for liberation, an end to their humiliation, and the ultimate return to the motherland.

This indomitable spirit crossed the Taiwan Straits, joining the struggles of the mainland compatriots against the invaders and contributing to the final victory in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.

Two significant international documents signed after the war reaffirmed China's sovereignty over Taiwan in accordance with the principle of international law.

The Cairo Declaration, jointly released by China, the U.S. and the UK on December 1, 1943, proclaimed the shared objective of the three allies: All territories stolen by Japan from China – including Northeast China, Taiwan, and the Penghu Islands – would be restored to China following Japan's unconditional surrender.

On July 26, 1945, the three nations, later joined by the Soviet Union, issued the Potsdam Proclamation, which reaffirmed that "the terms of the Cairo Declaration shall be carried out."

These internationally recognized post-war documents provide conclusive evidence that the restoration of Taiwan was both a just outcome of the Chinese people's struggle on both sides of the Straits and a key result of the global victory over fascism – an integral part of the post-war international order.

The history of Taiwan's restoration irrefutably demonstrates that the island is an inalienable part of China, and compatriots on both sides of the Straits share a common destiny.

Historically, Taiwan has always belonged to China, with people across the Straits sharing the same cultural roots, maintaining close exchanges, and forming one unified nation politically.

After Japan seized Taiwan, people on both sides of the Straits jointly waged struggles against the aggression and for national reunification. Following the full outbreak of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, tens of thousands of compatriots crossed the Straits to join the fight on the mainland.

Taiwan's ordeal began with Japan's invasion while its restoration symbolized the Chinese nation's victory over the aggressors, marking a crucial step toward complete national reunification. From the perspective of historical logic, the imperative of reunification is self-evident. Any attempt to challenge the one-China principle (which states that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China, and the People's Republic of China is the sole legitimate government) distorts historical facts and conceals ulterior motives.

The spirit of resistance and patriotism of the compatriots in Taiwan during their long struggle against Japanese aggression shares the same roots as that on the mainland. Both embody the unity and national consciousness awakened through the modern Chinese people's collective struggle against foreign invasion.

However, manipulated by forces with ulterior motives, the Taiwan authorities led by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) have willfully disregarded the principles of international law and historical facts. They have persistently engaged in provocations seeking "Taiwan independence," and deliberately promoted separatist fallacies.

The DPP’s secessionist agenda has become a major force driving the distortion of the historical truth about Taiwan's restoration. In recent years, it has spared no effort to distance Taiwan from the mainland, colluding with U.S. policy intended to contain China. Such actions contradict the historical reality, escalate tensions across the Straits, and endanger the island's long-term development and stability.

The position of the Chinese government has remained consistent and clear. National reunification is a historical inevitability grounded in international law and supported by the collective will of the Chinese nation. The future of Taiwan must – and will be – determined by the Chinese people on both sides of the Straits. The DPP leaders should recognize the irreversible trend of the Chinese nation's full rejuvenation and contribute constructively to it as well as to the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations.

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