On October 25, 2025, Beijing became the focal point of a significant historical commemoration: the 80th anniversary of Taiwan’s restoration to China. The occasion marked the inaugural Commemoration Day of Taiwan’s Restoration, following a decision by China’s national legislature just a day prior to designate October 25 as an official holiday. The event, attended by around 500 people, was not just a ceremonial gathering but a stage for powerful political messaging and reflection on decades of cross-Strait history.
Wang Huning, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and a member of the Communist Party of China’s (CPC) top leadership, addressed the audience with a call to action. According to Xinhua, Wang urged, “Compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait [should] work together to advance national reunification, and to leave no room for ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist activities in any form.” His remarks set the tone for a day that was as much about looking back as it was about shaping the future.
The roots of the commemoration stretch back to 1894, when Japan initiated a war against China and subsequently occupied Taiwan. The occupation lasted half a century, ending only after Japan’s defeat in World War II. On October 25, 1945, a formal ceremony in Taipei marked Japan’s surrender in Taiwan and the return of Taiwan and the Penghu Islands to China’s sovereign jurisdiction. Wang described this moment as “a great triumph and a shared glory of the Chinese people and the Chinese nation,” according to China Daily.
The decision to establish an official commemorative day was adopted by the Standing Committee of the 14th National People’s Congress, as reported by Global Times. Song Tao, head of the Taiwan Work Office of the CPC Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, underscored the symbolism of the day: “The establishment fully embodies the will of the people and the resolve of the state. It is a significant step to honor history and the martyrs who sacrificed for national liberation; a strong statement of China’s firm adherence to the one-China principle and opposition to ‘Taiwan independence’ and external interference.”
Song Tao’s comments, delivered at a reception at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, were echoed by other mainland officials and guests from Taiwan. The event also included a visit to the Museum of the War of Chinese People’s Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, reinforcing the narrative of shared struggle and victory against foreign occupation.
For many in Beijing, the commemorative day was a reaffirmation of the CPC’s unwavering commitment to reunification. Wang emphasized the importance of “adhering to peaceful reunification and the ‘one country, two systems’ policy, as well as upholding the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus.” He called for deepening cross-Strait exchanges and integration, urging all Chinese to “strive for national rejuvenation.”
But the commemorative events in Beijing stood in stark contrast to the response across the Taiwan Strait. The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)-led government in Taipei refused to officially recognize or participate in the commemoration. Its secretary-general declared, “there is no such thing as Taiwan’s Retrocession Day,” a stance that has fueled heated debate on both sides of the Strait, as reported by Xinhua and Global Times.
Former Taiwanese president Ma Ying-jeou, who led the island from 2008 to 2016, offered a different perspective in a statement posted on social media. Ma wrote, “Today marks the 80th anniversary of the Commemoration Day of Taiwan’s Restoration. Eighty years ago, after years of resisting Japanese aggression and through countless bloody battles, the Chinese nation finally won a hard-fought victory.” He recalled the immense human cost of the war: “More than 3 million soldiers of the Nationalist Army were killed or wounded, nearly 300 generals fell in battle, and over 20 million innocent civilians lost their lives.” Ma emphasized that the victory ended Japan’s 50-year colonial rule and returned Taiwan to China—“namely, to the Republic of China—a moment of profound historical significance.”
Ma did not mince words in criticizing the DPP’s stance, arguing that to deny the commemoration is to “distort historical facts, insult the great significance of Taiwan’s restoration, and betray the Taiwanese heroes who sacrificed their lives in the war of resistance.” He recounted key moments in the struggle, from the 1894 First Sino-Japanese War and the Treaty of Shimonoseki—which ceded Taiwan and the Penghu Islands to Japan—to the Cairo Declaration of 1943. The declaration, reached by Chiang Kai-shek, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Winston Churchill, stated that “all the territories Japan has stolen from the Chinese, such as Manchuria, Formosa, and the Pescadores, shall be restored to the Republic of China.”
Ma also reflected on the aftermath of victory, noting that the restoration of Taiwan was further confirmed by subsequent international agreements, including the Potsdam Proclamation and the Treaty of Peace between the Republic of China and Japan in 1952. He lamented the lack of official commemorations by the current government but praised civic groups for keeping the memory alive, saying, “in the hearts of many Taiwanese, this searing chapter of history must never be ignored or forgotten.”
The commemorative events in Beijing and the statements from both mainland and Taiwanese figures highlight the enduring complexity of cross-Strait relations. On the mainland, the day was framed as a testament to China’s resolve to achieve reunification and to honor the sacrifices of those who fought for national liberation. Song Tao told attendees, “We are determined to deepen exchanges and cooperation across the Straits, to strengthen the shared sense of belonging to the Chinese nation, and to firmly advance the cause of national reunification. With full confidence and resolve, we will overcome all challenges and realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.”
Meanwhile, some guests from Taiwan, such as Chi Hsing, publisher of The Observer magazine, suggested that the commemoration “awakens the collective memory of people across the Straits, inspires Taiwan compatriots to remember history, uphold the patriotic spirit, and take pride in being upright Chinese citizens based on the fact that both sides of the Straits belong to one China, while contributing to national reunification and rejuvenation.”
Yet, the DPP’s refusal to participate and its outright rejection of the commemorative day underscore the deep divisions that persist regarding Taiwan’s identity and future. While the mainland’s narrative emphasizes unity, historical continuity, and eventual reunification, many in Taiwan—particularly within the current government—see the island’s modern history and political status through a different lens, one that is increasingly distinct from the mainland’s.
As the first Commemoration Day of Taiwan’s Restoration draws to a close, the day serves as both a reminder of shared history and a flashpoint for contemporary political debate. The events in Beijing were not only about honoring the past but also about asserting a vision for the future—one that remains hotly contested on both sides of the Strait.
