President Ma Ying-jeou says that the Republic of China government deserves credit for leading China through WWII. Ma was speaking on Thursday at an event marking Armed Forces Day.
Ma said that he agrees with former President Lee Teng-hui’s words that the Republic of China played a vital role in the war.
“Those were the words of former President Lee Teng-hui’s 20 years ago on the 50th anniversary of our victory in the war against Japan," said Ma.
"On one hand, he acknowledged the sacrifice that the national army made during the War of Resistance, especially during the bloody Japanese occupation. At the same time, he also mentioned how soldiers from Taiwan including Penghu and other nearby islands were maltreated when they were recruited to fight for Japan.”
Close to 700 people were at the Martyrs' Shrine in Taipei to attend the event.