Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office

Lai Ching-te, regional leader of the island of Taiwan, disregarded historical facts and completely ignored the suffering endured by the Taiwan people, instead, he fervently glossed over and beautified Japan's colonial rule, Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, stated on Wednesday after Lai recently remarked that the relationship between Taiwan region and Japan is not merely that of friends, but rather like that of family—a remark that drew criticism in the island of Taiwan for his selective amnesia regarding the painful history of atrocities committed against the Taiwan people during the Japanese colonial period. 

Chen said Lai's betrayal of the nation is truly shameful.

This year marks the 130th anniversary of Japan's invasion of Taiwan and the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. Eighty years ago, all Chinese people, including our compatriots in the island of Taiwan, united with unwavering resolve and made tremendous sacrifices to defeat the brutal Japanese militarism, defending national sovereignty and ethnic dignity with their blood and lives, thus writing a glorious chapter in the great victory of the war, Chen stated at a press conference on Wednesday.

It is well-known that during the half-century of Japanese colonial, the crimes committed by Japan are too numerous to list, bringing immense suffering to the Taiwan people. The Japanese colonial regime brutally suppressed the anti-Japanese struggles of the Taiwan residents, resulting in the blood and lives of hundreds of thousands of compatriots. The Japanese invaders forcibly implemented the "Japanization Movement," aiming to erase the national identity of the Taiwan people, and exploited Taiwan's resources through the so-called "Agricultural Taiwan, Industrial Japan" policy, according to Chen.

However, Lai, leader of Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities, disregards historical facts, completely omitting the suffering endured by the Taiwanese people, while instead promoting the so-called "Taiwan-Japan relationship," whitewashing and glorifying Japanese colonial rule, which is a betrayal of the nation and deeply shameful.

No matter how he distorts history or fabricates erroneous narratives, it cannot change the fact that Taiwan is part of China, nor can it alter the historical trend toward the inevitable reunification of the motherland, Chen said.

Chen called on the vast majority of Taiwan compatriots to stand on the side of historical correctness, remember the heroic anti-Japanese efforts of Taiwan's martyrs, deeply understand the significance of Taiwan's restoration, and recognize the severe dangers posed by Lai's administration's push for "Taiwan independence." They should take pride in being upright Chinese and work alongside their compatriots on the mainland to advance national rejuvenation and the process of reunification.

Global Times