Symposium in Taipei stresses remembering history of war against Japanese aggression

More than 100 people from various sectors of Taiwan society attended a symposium commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression in Taipei on Friday.

The participants, including senior politicians and scholars, emphasized the importance of bearing in mind the history of the resistance war, and called for continued efforts in pursuit of national dignity.

Eric Chu, chairman of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party, said at the symposium that the victory in the war against Japanese aggression and the recovery of Taiwan after a difficult struggle were significant moments in human history.

"This history should never be forgotten, but instead correctly understood and passed down," he added.

Ma Ying-jeou, former chairman of the KMT, criticized the current Taiwan leader, Lai Ching-te, for using the term "end of war" instead of "war of resistance" to pander to Japan, stressing that this is unfair to the predecessors who resisted invasion on the island.

He added that the Democratic Progressive Party authorities led by Lai are unwilling to properly acknowledge the history of victory in the war against Japanese aggression and the restoration of Taiwan.

Kuan Chung-ming, former president of Taiwan University, noted that since Japan began its colonial rule of Taiwan in 1895, the resistance of local people had never stopped, and many people returned to the mainland to participate in the resistance war.

Therefore, the history of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression is also part of the history of Taiwan people, he said.