Chinese authorities have issued a stern condemnation of Taiwan’s leadership for attempting to rehabilitate Japan’s colonial legacy on the island. The sharp criticism emerged from Beijing on Wednesday through an official statement by Zhu Fenglian, spokeswoman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office.
The controversy centers on recent remarks by Taiwan leader Lai Ching-te that reportedly endorsed the historically problematic concept of the ‘Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere’ – a propaganda framework used by imperial Japan during World War II to justify military expansion and colonial domination across Asia. This revisionist approach has triggered substantial backlash within Taiwan itself, where scholars and experts have denounced the historical distortion as politically motivated manipulation.
Zhu Fenglian characterized Japan’s occupation and colonial administration of Taiwan as ‘the darkest chapter in the island’s history,’ emphasizing the brutal suppression of local populations and systematic resource exploitation during this period. The spokeswoman asserted that any effort to whitewash colonial atrocities constitutes both a betrayal of national dignity and a desecration of those who sacrificed their lives during the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.
The official response further interpreted these historical revision attempts as evidence of underlying ‘Taiwan independence’ aspirations, warning that such provocations would never be tolerated. The statement concluded with a call for cross-strait unity against separatist activities and external interference, reinforcing Beijing’s consistent position on Taiwan’s status as an inalienable part of China.