An international academic symposium opened in Beijing on Sunday, gathering nearly 100 scholars and experts from China and abroad for in-depth exchanges and discussions on the history of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and Taiwan's restoration to China.
The event, hosted by Peking University, seeks to review history through an international lens and to expound on the global significance and contemporary values of the Chinese people's 14-year war of resistance.
During the symposium, global historians highly affirmed China's crucial role in World War II.
"The most important role that China played was, of course, to take on Japan. This was a horrible war in which many people suffered very greatly. And, I think that's the kind of suffering and horror that hasn't been received enough attention or recognition outside China. So that's a very important thing. These large-scale wars -- it's going to be hugely destructive. It's going to change the world profoundly. And it's going to have to learn some lessons from history that wars are just not controllable," said Hans van de Ven, a history professor at the University of Cambridge.
The symposium reiterated the fact that Taiwan's restoration to China was a key outcome of the victory in the war, serves as conclusive evidence that the Chinese government resumed the exercise of sovereignty over Taiwan, and constitutes a vital link in the historical and legal chain that Taiwan is an integral part of China.
Scholars said historical truth must be firmly established, and emphasized the academic community's responsibility to amplify such voices.
"Taiwan's restoration is part of China's modern history. It proves that Taiwan is part of China. As is widely known, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is promoting 'de-Sinicization' and diluting the historical memory of the cross-Strait relationship among Taiwan's younger generation. By highlighting the historical fact of Taiwan's restoration, we want Taiwan society to understand it and the world to hear our voice," said Chi Chia-lin, honorary chairman of the Reunification Alliance Party in Taiwan.
"Remembering Taiwan's restoration means remembering that our nation has endured profound hardships, yet it has also mounted resolute resistance. In our current pursuit of the complete reunification across the Strait, we must make sure our Taiwan compatriots are aware of this history -- this shared historical process of struggle. They need to understand how important this historical process is to all of us. It represents our shared suffering and glory. Therefore, I believe the work we are doing now is extremely important," said Chen Zhongchun, director of the Institute of History at the Graduate Institute for Taiwan Studies of Xiamen University.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in 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 restoration to China.
Int'l symposium on Taiwan's restoration opens in Beijing
