President Ma Ying-jeou says that the Kuomintang was responsible for leading China through WWII. He was speaking at a defense ministry event on Wednesday marking the 70th anniversary of the war’s end.
Ma said that China’s Communist Party did play a part in the war effort. However, he said that the credit for guiding China through the war belongs to the Kuomintang.
"As much historical data has revealed, we can see clearly that during the War of Resistance against Japan, the Kuomintang government played the leading role, whether it was on the frontline or behind enemy lines," said Ma.
"Of all the major battles in the war, the Communist Party of China was only on the frontline in September 1937 during the battle at Pinxinguan in Taiyuan. Afterward, the Communist Party turned to guerilla warfare and avoided any direct conflict with Japanese troops. They used this strategy to maintain their strength and to absorb local troops. They even attacked Kuomintang troops to enlarge their domain."
Ma said that due to the 1992 Consensus of One China, the two sides have been reconciling and cooperating. But he called on China to face the facts of history.
"If Chinese authorities can face the facts of history, be considerate of war veterans and publicly admit that the Kuomintang government led the eight-year War of Resistance against Japan with Communist assistance, that would be historically accurate and show their high-mindedness. That attitude would receive the affirmation of overseas Chinese," said Ma.