A State Council Taiwan Affairs Office spokeswoman on Wednesday criticized Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities for obstructing people on the island to participate in Victory Day commemorations organized by the mainland.
China will mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War with a grand military parade in Beijing on September 3.
The DPP has prohibited public officials from traveling to the mainland to attend the parade and other commemorative events, and threatened to punish them if they have any "cooperative behavior" with the mainland by taking part in related activities.
"This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, as well as the 80th anniversary of Taiwan's recovery. These milestones deserve to be jointly commemorated by compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. Taiwan compatriots should not be absent from these commemorative activities and must be part of them," Zhu Fenglian, the mainland spokeswoman, said on the issue at a press conference.
"The DPP authorities are deliberately distorting the history of the war, threatening and intimidating Taiwan compatriots, and obstructing their participation in these memorial events. Such despicable acts, which betray history and the Chinese nation, will never have popular support," she said.
DPP slammed for obstructing Taiwan people's participation in Victory Day commemorations
DPP slammed for obstructing Taiwan people's participation in Victory Day commemorations
DPP slammed for obstructing Taiwan people's participation in Victory Day commemorations
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
