A series of government officials have released statements asking the public to avoid Chinese military parades commemorating the end of WWII.
On Friday, Mainland Affairs Council Minister Andrew Hsia said that the government is opposed to former Vice President Lien Chan’s plan to attend an upcoming parade in Beijing. Hsia said that the Mainland Affairs Council has not contacted Lien through official channels. However, he said he believes that Lien is aware of the government’s opposition to his attendance at the event.
Hsia also called on private individuals planning to attend Chinese commemorative parades to insist on Taiwan’s dignity. He said that Taiwanese attending the parades should explain Taiwan’s view that it was the nationalist KMT government that led resistance against the Japanese invasion.
Meanwhile, defense ministry spokesman David Lo called on retired servicemen to avoid the parades in the interests of national security and respect for history.