Taiwan Condemns Putin's Remarks on "Victory in the Anti-Japanese War Under Communist Leadership"
Rebukes President Xi's Russian Op-Ed for "Distorting History"
Taiwan has strongly protested and objected to the references to the Anti-Japanese War and cross-strait relations made in the China-Russia summit and joint statement, claiming that these statements are inconsistent with historical facts.
According to foreign media including the Central News Agency (CNA) of Taiwan on May 9, the Mainland Affairs Council, which is responsible for Taiwan's affairs with mainland China, issued a statement on this day. The council stated, "We strongly protest and condemn the China-Russia summit and joint statement for including the claim that 'the victory on the Chinese battlefield during World War II was achieved under the leadership of the Communist Party,' and the erroneous assertion that 'Taiwan is an inseparable part of China.'"
The council continued, "The government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and all its military and citizens made countless sacrifices and dedicated themselves to resisting invasion and defending their homeland during the Anti-Japanese War. The Chinese Communist Party merely took advantage of the situation to expand and consolidate its communist forces, but made no substantial contribution to the Anti-Japanese War. The claim that it 'led' the resistance is even more unfounded."
The council further emphasized, "Taiwan has never, at any point in history, under international law, or in the reality of cross-strait relations, belonged to the People's Republic of China (China), and Taiwan is by no means a part of the People's Republic of China. The fact that 'the two sides of the strait are not subordinate to each other' is the current status of the Taiwan Strait as generally recognized by the international community and is a matter of fact."
Chinese President Xi Jinping (left) and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Photo by AP and Yonhap News
This position from Taiwan is a response to the remarks and content of the joint statement made during the summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was on a state visit to Russia the previous day.
According to the Chinese state-run Xinhua News Agency, President Putin stated during the summit with President Xi, "Under the strong leadership of the Chinese Communist Party, the Chinese people fought bravely and achieved a great victory in the Anti-Japanese War."
The joint statement also declared, "Russia once again emphasizes its adherence to the One China principle, stating that Taiwan is an inseparable part of China, and that the government of the People's Republic of China is the only legitimate government representing all of China. Russia opposes any form of 'Taiwan independence.'"
Even before this, Taiwan had refuted an article contributed by President Xi to Russian media. In the article titled "Using History as a Mirror to Open Up the Future Together," published in the Russian state-run Rossiyskaya Gazeta, President Xi claimed that China and Russia fought together against Japan and Germany during World War II, contributed to the establishment of the postwar order, and that China's sovereignty over Taiwan was confirmed based on the Cairo Declaration, the Potsdam Declaration, and United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758.
In response, Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on May 8, criticizing President Xi for misrepresenting historical and legal facts in his article. The ministry stated, "His absurd narrative, which distorts reality and departs from the truth, is a malicious attempt to deceive and mislead the international community and to erase Taiwan's sovereignty. We strongly express our dissatisfaction and condemnation of these false claims."
The ministry further reiterated that the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Declaration "confirmed the Republic of China's sovereignty over Taiwan. At that time, the People's Republic of China did not even exist."
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