China to Hold Celebration for Taiwan 'Retrocession' Anniversary

Post by : Saif Nasser

China announced it will host a ceremony this weekend to mark the 80th anniversary of Taiwan’s “retrocession,” the handover of the island from Japan to Chinese rule in 1945. The event is scheduled to take place at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People on Saturday.

Officials from China’s Taiwan Affairs Office said the day celebrates what they call a “great national victory” after Japan’s defeat in World War II. The anniversary represents the return of Taiwan to Chinese governance after 50 years of Japanese colonization. Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office, said the event honors “the shared struggle and victory of all Chinese people, including compatriots in Taiwan” and should be commemorated jointly by people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. She confirmed invitations had been sent to people in Taiwan, but did not provide details on which Chinese leaders would attend or speak.

Taiwan, which is self-governed and democratic, strongly criticized Beijing’s planned celebration. Officials in Taipei said China is trying to “rewrite history” and use the event to support its political claim over Taiwan. They said it was the Republic of China (ROC), not the People’s Republic of China (PRC), that received Taiwan after Japan’s surrender in 1945. The ROC government moved to Taiwan in 1949 after losing a civil war to China’s communists, who later established the PRC. Taiwan stressed that the ROC still exists today and that Beijing’s claim over Taiwan is false. Last week, Taiwan banned its officials from attending any Chinese retrocession events, accusing Beijing of misusing history for political purposes.

In response, China accused Taiwan of “denying historical truth” and attempting to stop citizens from honoring the wartime sacrifices of all Chinese people. Zhu said Taipei was trying to “intimidate and suppress” Taiwanese from participating in the events. Beijing maintains that, as the “successor state” of the ROC, it has the right to claim Taiwan as its own territory. Taiwan disagrees, saying the ROC government continues to exist.

According to diplomatic sources, China’s ceremony will take place on Saturday at the Great Hall of the People. Invitations have been sent to some Taiwanese representatives, but no details are confirmed about speakers or attendees. The last major anniversary event was in 2015, when Yu Zhengsheng, then one of China’s top leaders, delivered a speech attended by foreign guests. Analysts say this year’s event will carry a strong political message, as Beijing continues to increase pressure on Taiwan, sending military aircraft and ships near the island almost daily.

The 80th anniversary comes at a time of high tension between China and Taiwan. Beijing considers Taiwan a breakaway province, while Taiwan sees itself as an independent state with its own government, army, and democratic system. Experts say the “retrocession” celebration allows China to show strength on the Taiwan issue and highlight its version of history.

Meanwhile, in Taipei, the city is preparing for East Asia’s largest Pride parade on the same day. The colorful event celebrates LGBTQ+ rights and showcases Taiwan’s modern identity as a free and open democracy. The anniversary events in Beijing and Taipei highlight the sharp contrast between the two sides: China will emphasize unity under Chinese rule, while Taiwan will celebrate independence, diversity, and democracy.