Chinese mainland official warns of Japan's colonization of Taiwan

Mainland Taiwan affairs chief Zhang Zhijun has warned that whitewashing Japan's colonization of Taiwan is an aspect of "Taiwan independence" that threatens cross-Strait peace.

Some people in Taiwan are still trying to deny the historical connection between Taiwan and the mainland by whitewashing the colonial annexation of the island by Japan from 1895 to 1945, said Zhang, director of the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, at a cross-Strait seminar held in Changchun, capital of northeast China's Jilin Province, on Thursday.

They have even attempted to compromise the interests of all Chinese on the issue of the Diaoyu Islands, he said.

"This year marks the 70th anniversary of the victory of Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, and also the 70th anniversary of Chinese recovery of sovereignty over Taiwan. This great victory belongs to all Chinese people," he said.

People from both sides of the Taiwan Strait should remember and celebrate it together, he said.

In 1895, when China was defeated in the first Sino-Japanese War, the Qing government was forced to sign the unequal Treaty of Shimonoseki, ceding Taiwan and its affiliated islands to Japan.

In 1945, upon the surrender of Japan at the end of World War II, China recovered its territory that had been occupied by Japan, including Taiwan.

But supporters of "Taiwan independence" have often tried to retrospectively legitimize Japan's actions in Taiwan and used the matter as a reason to deny that Taiwan is part of China.

During his July visit to Japan, a former leader of the island, Lee Teng-hui, controversially claimed that Taiwan is "grateful" for having been ruled by Japan and stated that the Diaoyu Islands belong to Japan.

A recent decision by the Taiwan education authority to change the content of some textbooks, including altering "Japanese governance" to "Japanese colonization" and "[Chinese] takeover of Taiwan" as "the recovery of sovereignty over Taiwan," was met with protests by the pro-independence Democratic Progress Party (DPP), some organizations and some students.

Zhang stressed that supporters of "Taiwan independence" are the biggest threat to peace and stability across the Strait and the main barrier against the region's bright future.

Although the mainland is committed to cross-Strait peace, it will not waver its stance on sovereignty and territorial integrity, he said.

If the two sides stay committed to the 1992 Consensus, which confirmed the principle of "one China," cross-Strait relations will remain peaceful and bright and the island will enjoy more opportunities for development, he said.

He urged all responsible political parties in Taiwan to "have a clear stance on this fundamental issue."

Zhang promised that the mainland will continue to support cross-Strait talks and meetings between cross-Strait affairs chiefs.

"We will be consistent in our cross-Strait policy, consolidate the common political foundation and improve mutual trust," he said.