On October 25, 2025, a date now etched into the official Chinese calendar as the Commemoration Day of Taiwan’s Restoration, both sides of the Taiwan Strait marked the 80th anniversary of an event that continues to shape the geopolitics and national identities of the region. The day commemorates the moment in 1945 when Japanese colonial authorities surrendered control of Taiwan to Chinese forces, ending half a century of foreign rule and returning the island and the Penghu Islands to what Beijing insists is their rightful place under Chinese sovereignty. The commemorations, held in both Beijing and Taipei, were as much about the past as they were about the future—a future fraught with political confrontation, international maneuvering, and the persistent question of national reunification.
According to Xinhua News Agency, a high-level meeting took place in Beijing’s Great Hall of the People, attended by approximately 500 guests, including senior officials, Taiwan compatriots, and overseas Chinese. Wang Huning, chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee and a member of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee’s Standing Committee, delivered a keynote address. Wang called on “people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait to work together to advance national reunification, and to leave no room for ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist activities in any form.” He described the victory over Japanese aggression and the restoration of Taiwan as “a great triumph and a shared glory of the Chinese people and the Chinese nation.”
The significance of the day was underscored by the Chinese National Legislature’s decision, just one day prior, to officially designate October 25 as the new national holiday. The move was not merely ceremonial. As reported by Global Times and other state media, it was intended to “reinforce the historical and legal facts that Taiwan has been an inseparable part of China’s sacred territory since ancient times,” while also consolidating the international community’s commitment to the “One China” principle. The commemoration, according to the official Chinese view, preserves the legacy of China’s victory in World War II and honors the sacrifices of all who fought for the nation’s unity—including those from Taiwan itself.
The historical context is crucial. Taiwan was ceded to Japan in 1895 after the First Sino-Japanese War, and remained under Japanese rule for 50 years. The defeat of Japan in World War II, and the subsequent ceremony in Taipei on October 25, 1945, marked the formal end of colonial rule. However, the end of World War II did not bring about lasting unity. Instead, the outbreak of the Chinese Civil War and the eventual split between the People’s Republic of China (PRC) on the mainland and the Republic of China (ROC) on Taiwan led to a protracted state of political confrontation, exacerbated by the involvement of external powers, most notably the United States.
Wang Huning, in his speech, emphasized that the establishment of the commemorative day reflects the Party’s “steadfast resolve to fulfill its historical mission and achieve complete reunification of the motherland.” He urged compatriots to “shoulder their historical responsibilities in promoting the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations and realizing national rejuvenation.”
The commemorations were not confined to the mainland. In Taipei, despite a drizzly autumn day, people gathered in a downtown square to sing victory songs from 1946 and recall the momentous events of eight decades prior. Wang Chuan-ping, vice chairperson of Taiwan’s Labor Party, remarked, “Eighty years ago today, with the defeat of Japanese imperialism, Taiwan ended half a century of colonial rule and returned to the embrace of the motherland. This historic moment remains a shared memory for people across the Strait.”
Other voices from Taiwan echoed similar sentiments. Chi Hsing, publisher of The Observer magazine in Taiwan, said that the new holiday “resonates with the shared aspirations of the overwhelming majority of Taiwan compatriots,” and would “rekindle shared memories among compatriots across the Taiwan Strait, inspire Taiwan compatriots to bear history in mind, carry forward the patriotic tradition, and strive for national reunification and rejuvenation.” Lan Bo-chow, a prominent writer, stressed the need to “restore historical facts that have been distorted by some politicians in Taiwan, and present the truth to the public, thereby helping more people gain a clearer understanding of the direction for cross-Strait relations.”
Wu Jung-yuan, chairman of the Labor Party in Taiwan, attended the Beijing ceremony and described the event as profoundly moving. “National reunification is a historical inevitability in China’s journey toward national rejuvenation, while the noise of ‘Taiwan independence’ and foreign interference are but futile acts against history’s tide,” he said, according to Global Times. Wu argued that “peaceful reunification best serves the interests of the Chinese nation, and we must firmly grasp the initiative to prevent provocations from dragging cross-Straits relations into a passive state.”
Ding Kun-hua, honorary president of the Association of Taiwan Investment Enterprises on the Mainland, also attended the event. He lamented efforts by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities in Taiwan to “distort history and promote the false notion of ‘Taiwan’s undetermined status.’” Nonetheless, Ding insisted that “people across Taiwan remain committed to commemorating Taiwan’s restoration, honoring the sacrifices of those on the mainland who made it possible.”
The commemoration comes at a time of heightened political tension. The Taiwanese authorities, led by the DPP, have in recent years intensified their efforts to assert a separate identity, while Beijing has doubled down on its opposition to any form of “Taiwan independence.” The timing of the new holiday also coincides with the election victory of Cheng Li-wen, the new leader of Taiwan’s Kuomintang (KMT) party, who supports the One China principle and is seen by Beijing as a potential partner for dialogue. Chinese President Xi Jinping, in a congratulatory message to Cheng, called for efforts to “reunite the ranks” and for both parties to “unite the vast majority of the people in Taiwan to increase friendly exchanges and cooperation, promote common development, and accelerate the reunification of the nation.”
For many on the mainland, the commemoration is inseparable from the broader project of national rejuvenation—a goal enshrined in the constitution and described as a “historic mission” for the CPC. As Chen Chien-ping, daughter of a former head of the Chinatide Association in Taiwan, put it, “The victory that brought about Taiwan’s restoration shows that loving Taiwan island and loving China are one and the same. Reunification will allow us to live with dignity as Chinese—this was the lifelong wish of my parents and many Taiwan patriots.”
Despite the pageantry and the official rhetoric, the reality on the ground remains complex. The two sides of the Taiwan Strait have been locked in a political deadlock since 1949, and external actors—especially the United States—continue to play a significant role. Yet, as the commemorations showed, the memory of 1945 remains a powerful symbol, one that both unites and divides, and whose legacy will continue to influence the future of cross-Strait relations.
