President Ma Ying-jeou has attended two ceremonies marking the 70th anniversary of Japan’s surrender to China.
On September 9, 1945, representatives of the Republic of China military accepted Japan’s formal surrender at a 20 minute-long ceremony in Nanjing. At the Armed Forces Museum in Taipei Wednesday, Ma said that though the surrender ceremony was brief, its significance was far-reaching.
Ma said that the ceremony represented the conclusion of a struggle that had begun in 1895, when China was forced to cede Taiwan to Japan. Ma said that the Republic of China was exercising its sovereignty when it assumed control of Taiwan after the Japanese surrender. He said that this sovereignty was legally guaranteed under several international treaties and declarations.
While at the museum, Ma also said that Taiwan is willing to present medals to veterans of the war regardless of whether they fought for the Republic of China military or with communist forces.
Later, Ma also attended the launch of a new edition of a book documenting China’s WWII fight against Japan. At the event, Ma said that a growing number of people recognize that the Republic of China government led China through the war. He also said that resistance against Japanese imperialism began in Taiwan 30 years before Japan’s invasion of Mainland China.