History must not be distorted, ‘Taiwan independence’ is ultimately doomed - opinion

Yet in May this year, President Lai Ching-te, the leader of the Taiwan authorities, brazenly attended a so-called memorial ceremony for Japanese engineer Yoichi Hatta, lauding Hatta’s supposed “contribution to advancing Taiwan’s modernization” during Japan’s colonial rule of Taiwan, and even knelt before a memorial statue of his, sparking an uproar both on the island and beyond.

In fact, Japan imposed colonial rule over Taiwan for half a century after launching its war of aggression against China at the end of the 19th century.

During this period, military conquest, political repression, economic plunder, and cultural oppression were intertwined, and its numerous crimes brought profound suffering to the people of Taiwan, constituting the darkest chapter in Taiwan’s history.

Economically, Japanese colonialists, such as Yoichi Hatta, enforced the so-called colonial economic policy of “agricultural Taiwan, industrial Japan,” wantonly plundered Taiwan’s resources.

Culturally, they systematically imposed enslaving education on the people of Taiwan in an attempt to sever the cultural ties between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait rooted in Chinese civilization.

After 1937, the Japanese colonialists further tied Taiwan to the war machine of militarism, forcibly recruiting soldiers and laborers and even conscripting “comfort women” in Taiwan. The people of Taiwan fought one after another against Japanese aggression and colonial rule, with hundreds of thousands of Chinese compatriots paying for it with their blood and lives.

For the sake of partisan and personal interests, the Lai Ching-te authorities have disregarded historical facts and gone to great lengths to whitewash and glorify Japanese colonial rule. This is undoubtedly a distortion of history, a desecration of the martyrs, and a betrayal of the nation.

It once again exposes their nature of currying favor with Japan, selling out Taiwan, and resorting to every means in pursuit of “Taiwan independence” and provocation. Such conduct is utterly without a bottom line and deeply contemptible.

Together with the Nuremberg Laws, they permanently nailed the fascist war criminals to the pillar of historical disgrace. The historical justice embodied in these two great trials must not be denied, the legal force of their judgments must not be challenged, and the foundations they laid for the postwar international order must not be shaken.

“To forget history is to betray it.” Any words or actions that attempt to rehabilitate the crimes of militarism and fascism constitute a desecration of human conscience and international fairness and justice. They will inevitably meet the resolute opposition of peace-loving people throughout the world and will inevitably be brought before the judgment of history once again.

Taiwan’s return to China is one of the great achievements of World War II, and an important part of the postwar international order. Upholding the one-China principle is not only a consensus of the international community but also an essential obligation for safeguarding the postwar international order, which brooks no challenge.

The Chinese people have the firm resolve, full confidence, and sufficient capability to resolutely thwart all schemes aimed at interfering in China’s internal affairs and obstructing China’s reunification.

We hope our Israeli friends will see the situation clearly, fully understand the facts concerning the Taiwan question, recognize the sinister intentions and political schemes of the “Taiwan independence” separatist forces, and understand and support the efforts of the Chinese government to achieve national reunification.