politics

Taiwan marks 70 years since Japan's WWII defeat

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The CCP's legitimacy now relies almost exclusively on historic and territorial irredentism.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

With Japanese capital dominating Taiwan after WWII, there has just been a shift from colonialism to post-colonialism.

-2 ( +6 / -8 )

China (PRC) claims to have been an "ally" in WWII that defeated Imperial Japan. Despite not having existed until 3 years after WWII ended. It's about time Taiwan spoke out and let the world know the truth.

9 ( +14 / -6 )

By not fighting the Japanese, the CCP allowed more Chinese civilians to die horrible deaths at the hands of Japanese monsters. It makes them criminally selfish, murderously brutal, and callously indifferent to the suffering of their fellow countrymen.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

On the other hand, the Kuomintang hardly speaks for Taiwan's experience, only invading en masse after their mainland defeat several years after WWII ended. There is something hypocritical about this celebration dressed up as commemoration. Their subsequent brutal usurpation of power on the island is largely glossed over. Many "native" Taiwanese felt better off under the Japanese.

-1 ( +5 / -6 )

CrazyJoe

By not fighting the Japanese, the CCP allowed more Chinese civilians to die horrible deaths at the hands of Japanese monsters. It makes them criminally selfish, murderously brutal, and callously indifferent to the suffering of their fellow countrymen.

Same thing can be said to the KMT. Even when the Japanese invaded, or officially started the war with China (I say this because the Japanese were already in China before war started), the KMT still focused on the communists, as they were seen as a bigger threat.

The CCP's legitimacy now relies almost exclusively on historic and territorial irredentism.

Or more like they got the money and the power.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

@Moonraker - During 1945-1947, ROC Taiwan government escorted/ transported more than 200 thousand JP soldiers and 600 thousand JP civilian back to Japan safely, and receive 300 thousand Taiwanese JP soldiers back Taiwan from south east asia safely, also, millions of Japanese were transported back Japan from mailand china safely by KMT, for this reason, Japan government expressed deep thank to KMT. It's true many people can blame KMT for whatever reason, however not for Japanese who understood history.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Ossan: "China (PRC) claims to have been an "ally" in WWII that defeated Imperial Japan. Despite not having existed until 3 years after WWII ended."

Please! You're going to talk about truths when you support so many of the lies perpetrated by Japan about that time period and Japan's atrocities? I guess you probably buy into the myth that what Japan did was good and helped Taiwan and other Asian nations, too? Saying "China didn't exist" until three years after the war ended is like saying Japan is 70-years-old. You couldn't very well talk about ancient Japanese culture then, could you.

0 ( +11 / -11 )

yosun

A Japanese tactician and former IJA General, Nemoto Hiroshi responding to a desperate plea from Chiang Kai-shek smuggled himself to Taiwan and basically saved Taiwan from defeat at Battle of Guningtou with his brilliant command at the battle field.

That is why Kinmen is still administrated by Taiwan.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Congrats Taiwan! May you bask in this moment of glory. My God, how ironic. I'm gonna sound politically incorrect but shouldn't Taiwan be celebrating 66years since they successfully escaped and established a democratic China? As has been stated, present Taiwan owes a lot to Japan. Who provided the necessary infrastructure more than half a century ago to make you a modernized 1st world country? It certainly wasn't the CCP. Granted, imperalistic Japan was certainly no beacon of democracy back then, but still. This is akin to the bullied kid in class who makes fun of the teacher-Japan, in the presence of the class bully-China. Well, President Ma always did enjoy kissing China's behind.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

moonraker:

Many "native" Taiwanese felt better off under the Japanese.

Sure, the aborigines were treated 'very well' by the Japanese invaders, as well as by what you call the 'natives'. Seeing how the Ainus were practically wiped off the face of Japan, I can really understand how the Taiwanese aborigines were pampered.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

2 good friends of ours in their 80s (from Taiwan) told us that Japan rescued them from the KMT. They have their utmost respect and appreciation for what Japan did when they occupied the island and utter disrespect for Chiang Kai-shek. From stories about Chiang Kai-shek, I have to side with our friends.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

I've read a number of stories where many Taiwanese who grew up during Japanese rule in the 1930's and early 1940's actually decided to move to Japan after 1945--and with good reason: they really feared for their lives because of being labeled as collaborators by the KMT, who moved to Taiwan in a big way from 1948 on when the KMT was defeated by the Communists.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

I am just a native Taiwanese, my prandpa told me lots of stories of old times and even my wife's grandpa was a Taiwanese JP soldier died in Java island during WW2. Japan had been colonizing Taiwan for 50 years therefore Taiwanese feelings toward Japan is complicated and naturally many Taiwanese have Japan friends and even have part of Japanese blood mix because 50 years is not short. At the same time, Taiwanese resisting conflicts( about 10 major events and 20- 30 minor ones happened in history) against Japanese bad administration were keeping going on and those events say all however I agree we can't say everything Japan did is bad! I wish japan really repent his past mistakes instead of emphasizing sided point of view and again hurting suffered people.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

yosunJul. 06, 2015 - 12:37AM JST I wish japan really repent his past mistakes instead of emphasizing sided point of view and again hurting suffered >people.

You don't think the last 70 years, longer than Taiwan was a Japanese colony, means anything?

1 ( +4 / -3 )

I think this is out outrageous to be celebrating the nuclear bombing that lead to Japans defeat and that's like endorsing the use of nuclear weapon to create a mass genocide extinction of this world. All thought i was wrong for the...Japanese most favorite moment of the war with China was during UNIT 731 torturing and the RAPE of Nanking non stop of endless rapes and tutoring girls. This is Historical information and not fictional and most hate to face the truth.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

OssanAmericaJul. 06, 2015 -You don't think the last 70 years, longer than Taiwan was a Japanese colony, means anything?

Still I think it's complicated 70 years, both of good things and bad things happened between Taiwan and Japan, generally it's not bad now and hopfully Taiwan doesn't want to be used as a chess between US, JP and CN! We simply want to try our best to do anything to improve all Taiwanese happiness.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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