Participants in the grand V-Day commemorations from China's Taiwan Region expressed deep pride in their shared Chinese heritage while underscoring Taiwan's strong connection to the history of resistance and national victory.
On Wednesday, China held a grand gathering commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. The occasion featured a grand military parade, attended by some international friends who made contributions to China's victory in the war, or their family representatives.
During the live broadcast, the appearance of six Kuomintang (KMT) veterans who fought in war against Japanese aggression elicited thunderous applause on-site and heartfelt comments from online viewers across the Taiwan Strait, many expressing their appreciation for the sacrifices of past generations.
Former chairperson of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party Hung Hsiu-chu, who were invited to the event, stressed that the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression was a life-or-death struggle for the Chinese nation and a chapter of history shared by both sides of the Taiwan Strait.
"This visit is about honoring historical truth and paying tribute to our heroes. I hope compatriots on both sides will stick to one-China principle, oppose Taiwan separatism, strengthen exchanges, and contribute to national reunification and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation," Hung said.
"The victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression is the victory of people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. When we united and fought courageously, we achieved not only the war's triumph but also the restoration of Taiwan," said Liu Yu-yu, a Taiwan resident.
"I'm honored to participate in the V-Day commemorations. This is not just because I'm a serviceman, but because I'm Chinese. What we're doing now is the right thing to do and we should continue to strive for it," said Lu Li-shih, former navy captain in the Taiwan region.
Experts in Taiwan have noted that the mainland's V-Day commemorations have sparked renewed interest on the island in the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and Taiwan's restoration. The shared memories of the resistance endeavors inspire many to recognize that people on both sides of the Strait are one family, and deepen their pride in being Chinese.
Mainland's V-Day event evokes pride and belonging among Taiwan residents
Iraq has seen its aviation industry dealt a huge blow because of continued airspace closures and flight suspensions amid regional hostilities triggered by the recent Israeli-U.S. strikes on Iran.
As security concerns persist while tensions remain high, Iraq announced on Friday it would extend the closure of its airspace for one more week as uncertainty over the conflict continues to hang in the air.
It is estimated that the country's aviation industry has lost more than 43 million U.S. dollars over the past month since the crisis erupted, with the war causing huge disruption to air travel across the region.
"After the closure of Iraqi airspace, airport operations were halted, and revenue from both arriving and departing flights was lost. This includes income from passenger services as well as overflying aircraft, which has significantly impacted overall revenues," said Maytham al-Safi, director of media office of the Iraqi Ministry of Transport.
The impact is being felt across the board, from government revenues to private businesses, as some of the leading travel agencies say bookings have completely collapsed, with some reporting daily passenger numbers dropping from around 100 to just five.
"Our company has been directly affected. We have four branches and around 80 employees, and the impact has been significant. We still have rent and other expenses to cover, so we are trying to adapt to whatever limited business is still possible," said Ahmed Khalid, managing director of the Safari Trip travel and tourism company in Baghdad.
With air travel no longer an option, many Iraqis are turning to overland routes -- often traveling for hours, even days, to reach neighboring countries like Türkiye. But the journey is not only longer and more expensive, it can also be highly risky.
"This situation creates real anxiety for families. It's not only the travelers who are at risk, but also the vehicles transporting them. These journeys can be dangerous. There is always the risk of accidents or even drone strikes. At the same time, costs have doubled, so people are facing both financial and safety pressures," said Anwar al-Mousawi, a local resident.
For many, a sense of frustration is growing the longer the current situation drags on, as civilians bear the consequences of a conflict they are not part of, and with no clear timeline for reopening Iraqi airspace, economic losses and public frustration are expected to deepen.
"The reality is, we are in a country that is not part of this war and did not start it, yet we are the ones paying the price," said al-Mousawi.
Iraq's aviation industry left grounded as Middle East crisis continues
