Taiwan Opposition Leader Links Cross-Strait Divide to 1895 War
Nanjing, China – Kuomintang (KMT) Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun, a prominent Taiwanese opposition leader, declared on Wednesday that the fundamental division between mainland China and Taiwan originated from Japanese "imperialist forces." Her remarks were delivered during a solemn tribute at Sun Yat-sen's mausoleum in Nanjing, where she honored the founder of modern China by laying a floral wreath before his statue.
During her speech, Cheng Li-wun offered a detailed historical perspective on the intricate cross-strait relationship.
"The division between mainland China and Taiwan originated from Japanese 'imperialist forces.'"
Tracing the Historical Roots
Cheng highlighted that Taiwan's status as a Japanese colony began after China's defeat in the 1895 First Sino-Japanese War. She characterized this period as one of profound national weakness for China.
Following the pivotal 1911 revolution, which successfully overthrew the Qing dynasty, Taiwanese people reportedly expressed considerable excitement. Intellectuals on the island, she noted, anticipated that a revitalized China would eventually reclaim Taiwan and bring an end to Japanese colonial rule.
The Enduring "Wound" of Division
Cheng asserted that current cross-strait divisions are still deeply rooted in "the wound created 130 years ago by the first Sino-Japanese war." She described this historical event as "a wound carved through the Taiwan Strait that has yet to heal."
She further commented on China's broader historical suffering and difficulties over the past century. According to Cheng, these have stemmed from a combination of external imperialist forces and debilitating internal divisions and conflicts. These internal conflicts, she indicated, ultimately led to mutual destruction, with ordinary people enduring the harshest consequences.