Taiwan Rejects Beijing’s ‘Restoration Day’ Claims as Cognitive Warfare
Taiwan’s defense minister accuses China of cognitive warfare after Beijing established a new holiday marking the post-WWII handover of the island.
POLICY WIRE — Taipei, Taiwan — Taiwan’s defense minister, Wellington Koo, accused Beijing on Tuesday of engaging in cognitive warfare following China’s decision to commemorate the anniversary of Japan’s post-World War II handover of the island.
The controversy stems from China’s recent announcement of a new holiday, the Commemoration Day of Taiwan’s Restoration, which Beijing uses to bolster its territorial claims over the self-governed island. Taipei officials have firmly rejected this narrative, noting that the People’s Republic of China was not established until 1949 and played no part in the war against Japan.
Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council issued a sharp rebuke of the move, labeling the designation of October 25 as a fabrication intended to falsely assert that Taiwan belongs to the PRC. The council described the Chinese legislature’s declaration as a repetitive attempt to distort historical facts and belittle Taiwan’s sovereignty.
Defense Minister Koo warned that Beijing is leveraging historical commemorations to disseminate specific political messages. While Chinese authorities argue that celebrating the victory over Japanese aggression fosters a sense of national community and deepens cross-strait exchanges, Taipei maintains that these actions are part of a broader strategy to undermine the island’s status.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
