BEIJING/TAIPEI, Oct 25 (Xinhua) – People across both sides of the Taiwan Strait on Saturday marked the 80th anniversary of Taiwan’s restoration to China, reflecting shared historical memories and a renewed call for national reunification.
A high-level commemorative ceremony was held in Beijing, attended by China’s top political advisor Wang Huning. Addressing around 500 participants, Wang, chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, urged people on both sides of the Strait to unite in advancing national reunification and to firmly oppose all forms of “Taiwan independence” activities.
The event came a day after China’s national legislature officially designated October 25 as the Commemoration Day of Taiwan’s Restoration.
Taiwan was occupied by Japan following its war against China in 1894, remaining under Japanese rule for 50 years. On October 25, 1945, a ceremony in Taipei marked Japan’s surrender and the return of Taiwan and the Penghu Islands to Chinese sovereignty.
Despite this historic restoration, political confrontation between the two sides has persisted since the late 1940s due to the unresolved civil war and external interference.
Wang, who is also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said the victory in the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and Taiwan’s restoration to China were great achievements of the Chinese nation.
He added that establishing the commemorative day demonstrates the Party’s determination to fulfill its historical mission and achieve full national reunification. Wang emphasized that people across the Strait should take responsibility for promoting peaceful cross-Strait development and contributing to China’s rejuvenation.
Chi Hsing, publisher of The Observer magazine in Taiwan, said the decision to establish the commemoration day resonates with the aspirations of most Taiwanese people. She said it helps rekindle shared memories, strengthen patriotic sentiment, and inspire efforts toward national reunification and revival.
In Taipei, citizens braved light autumn rain to attend commemorative events held in city squares. They sang traditional songs celebrating Taiwan’s restoration, written in 1946, recalling the end of Japanese colonial rule and the return to China’s sovereignty.
“Eighty years ago today, with the defeat of Japanese imperialism, Taiwan ended half a century of colonial rule and returned to the embrace of the motherland,” said Wang Chuan-ping, vice chairperson of Taiwan’s Labor Party. He said the historic moment remains deeply rooted in the collective memory of people on both sides.
Lan Bo-chow, a well-known Taiwanese writer, said that establishing the Commemoration Day of Taiwan’s Restoration adds meaning to this year’s observance. He stressed the need to correct historical distortions and present the truth so that more people can clearly understand the course of cross-Strait relations.
This news was originally published by Xinhua.