The people of Taiwan cherish peace, uphold freedom and democracy, and will not commemorate peace with guns, Taiwan President Lai Ching-te said on Wednesday.
As Beijing staged a parade marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, Lai visited the National Revolutionary Martyrs’ Shrine in Taipei to honour the armed forces who had made the ultimate sacrifice for the nation.
“Taiwan does not commemorate peace with guns, but by honouring our fallen heroes, remembering history’s lessons, and standing firm in our belief in freedom and democracy,” Lai wrote on Facebook.
She added that weapons were for defence, not aggression or expansion.
The post, accompanied by a photo noting September 3 as Taiwan’s Armed Forces Day, highlighted Taiwan’s commitment to regional stability and democratic values, in an apparent nod to Beijing where a massive military demonstration was taking place.
On Tuesday, Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry condemned Beijing for distorting historical facts.
Analysts argue the Chinese military parade aimed to project China’s geopolitical power with allies such as Russia and North Korea, while reshaping history to emphasise the CCP’s role in WWII.
(NAN)