The window is closing on the chance to capture the oral history of World War II, said the director of a recent historical documentary, "The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru."
Depicting the story of courageous Chinese fishermen who rescued 384 British prisoners of war (POWs) amid heavy Japanese gunfire during the war, the documentary relies on the first-hand accounts of the last surviving witnesses and veterans.
During a recent interview with China Global Television Network, director Fang Li said that when he happened to hear the story of Lisbon Maru from fishermen in Zhoushan Islands, east China's Zhejiang Province, where the historical event took place, he decided that the full story must be told.
"Where did they come from? Why are they here? What happened here? So that's a very strong curiosity and also deep sad feeling about that. They're so far away from Europe, right in front of our gate. So there's a touching point. You remembered those lost lives and forgotten men. So when I return to the shore, then I heard the only surviving POW Dennis Morley, who is 98 years old already. The only [living] fisherman who rescued POWs, Mr. Lin, he is 94 years old. Then you know, the time is critical, very short. As I believe, that's the last window. If we don't do anything, we're going to lose all the oral history," said Fang.
In October 1942, the Lisbon Maru, a cargo vessel requisitioned by the Japanese army to carry over 1,800 British POWs from Hong Kong to Japan, was sunk by the U.S. army off the Zhoushan Islands in China's Zhejiang Province. Local fishermen risked their lives to rescue over 300 POWs.
On June 14, "The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru" made its global premiere in Shanghai. It took around eight years to finish, as the production team interviewed more than 110 families of the Lisbon Maru survivors.
The 123-minute documentary features extensive interviews with survivors and their descendants in China's Zhoushan Islands and Hong Kong, as well as in Britain, the United States and Japan.
On the ongoing conflicts such as the Ukraine crisis and the escalating situation in the Middle East, Fang said that by making the documentary, he wanted to show the world that war can only bring suffering and trauma for ordinary people.
"I think the lesson everybody wants to learn is for any war, there's no winner. And for people, for normal people, there's no winner. Any war that happens, civilians, families are the victims, always. Not for the politicians, but for the normal people (who) suffer a lot," said the director.
Lisbon Maru documentary strives to uncover untold WWII history: director
A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.
Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.
In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.
"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.
Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.
In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.
"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.
By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.
After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.
"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.
Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.
As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.
Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media
