Guests from both sides of the Taiwan Strait recalled the anti-Japanese history of the bloody battle between Fujian and Taiwan compatriots, and jointly discussed the historical significance and enlightenment of the times of victory of the Anti-Japanese War. Photo by Liu Shenkui

Taiwan Youth League is engaged in anti-Japanese propaganda activities in the Yong'an area. (Data picture)

The marching Taiwanese Volunteer Team (data photo)

Taiwan Youth League is practicing. (Data picture)

"If you want to save Taiwan, you must save the motherland first"

Southeast.com, September 1 (Fujian Daily reporter Liu Shenkui, Wang Fengshan) This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, and also the 80th anniversary of Taiwan's liberation. The liberation of Taiwan and the return to the embrace of the motherland are an important achievement of the victory of the War of Resistance Against Japan and a great victory forged by all Chinese people, including their compatriots, one after another and bloody battles.

This year, the mainland held a series of commemorative activities to carry forward the great spirit of patriotism and the great spirit of the War of Resistance. The people of Taiwan also held various forms of activities to commemorate the victory of the War of Resistance Against Japan and the 80th anniversary of Taiwan's liberation. However, the Lai Qingte administration tried hard to downplay the history of the War of Resistance, replaced the victory of the War of Resistance with the so-called "final war", whitewashed the Japanese colonial rule, spread the absurd "Taiwan independence historical view", and aroused dissatisfaction from all walks of life on the island.

The War of Resistance Against Japan is the common historical memory of the two sides of the Taiwan Strait. Under the banner of the anti-Japanese national united front advocated by the Communist Party of China, how can the children of Fujian and Taiwan fight side by side and fight against foreign aggression together? What tragic and touching stories have Taiwanese compatriots left behind? How can the Taiwanese Volunteer Team be content with the flames of all the worlds? How to pass on the spirit of the War of Resistance from generation to generation? ...Recently, the Fujian Daily and Fujian-Taiwan History and Culture Research Institute jointly launched a high-end interview program "Fujian-Taiwan Residence Room" jointly launched, inviting three guests, Lan Bozhou (famous Taiwanese writer and chairman of Gu Jinliang Cultural Foundation), Ye Weinan (director of Taiwan Anti-Japanese Patriotic Association Association), and Li Xiangqun (Fujian Literature and History Expert and Vice President of Fujian-South Culture Research Association), to feel the national justice and patriotic affection of compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait to go to the national crisis and fight bloody battles, and jointly explore the historical significance and enlightenment of the times of the victory of the War of Resistance Against Japan.

"The history of the War of Resistance cannot be forgotten, and it cannot be distorted."

"Because of the victory of the War of Resistance Against Japan, Taiwan was able to get rid of Japan's colonial rule. However, the DPP authorities have never mentioned the historical facts of the Taiwanese people's anti-Japanese war. They attempted to erase real historical memories and mislead young people. This is a very sad phenomenon in Taiwan today." Lan Bozhou, who has published works such as "Song of the Carriage" and "Looking for the Motherland Three Thousand Miles", has always awakened the Taiwanese people's anti-Japanese memories through writing and actions and restored the historical truth.

As the son of Ye Rongzhong, a patriotic writer in Taiwan’s anti-Japanese war, Ye Weinan also has the same anxiety, “The history of the Anti-Japanese War cannot be forgotten, and it cannot be distorted.” This anxiety stems from Taiwan’s reality.

In recent years, the DPP authorities have deliberately covered up history and have been increasingly promoting "de-Sinicization". Not only did they not commemorate the victory of the War of Resistance and the liberation of Taiwan, but they instead promoted the 50 years that beautified Japan's colonization of Taiwan. They always called the so-called "theory of the meritorious colonial rule", and even distorted "Yiwei protects Taiwan" into "Taiwan independence", attempting to build a ridiculous "Taiwan independence historical view", cutting off the historical and cultural bloodlines of the two sides of the Taiwan Strait, confusing the public, and poisoning the younger generation.

"Lai Ching-te, who claims to be pragmatic 'Taiwan independence' workers, is actually splitting and distorting history." Li Xiangqun said that Lai Ching-te presided over the so-called "Commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory of the European War", but did not commemorate the victory of the Anti-Japanese War and selectively avoided historical facts; he also shamelessly worshiped Hachida and Ichi (Japanese engineers) and sang praises for Japanese colonial rule, without mentioning the cruel suppression of the Taiwanese people by the Japanese invaders.

"Lai Ching-te is unwilling to admit that Taiwan is liberation, because behind the liberation is Taiwan's return to the motherland, which will inevitably be related to China. Therefore, he wants to erase the historical facts of the War of Resistance and Taiwan's liberation in order to 'de-Sinicize'." Ye Weinan said angrily.

Forgotten history means betrayal. Lai Ching-te's manipulation made the knowledgeable people on the island deeply saddened and worried about Taiwan's future and destiny.

In 2007, the Taiwan Anti-Japanese Patriots Relatives Association was established, with members including more than 30 anti-Japanese families, including Ye Weinan. "The establishment of the Association for Advancement is to find history back. The War of Resistance is the common memory of the Chinese nation." For many years, descendants of anti-Japanese patriots such as Ye Weinan have traveled across the Taiwan Strait, telling the anti-Japanese deeds of Taiwanese compatriots by holding activities and publishing books, and restoring the truth of history.

"We must tell the historical facts, including the heroic deeds of the Taiwanese people protecting Taiwan in blood and the historical facts of the joint anti-Japanese war between compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, and rectify the "historical view of Taiwan independence". Lan Bozhou said that many Taiwanese people are quite unfamiliar with the word "anti-Japanese". Commemorating the victory of the Anti-Japanese War "is to remember where we came from and to know where we are going."

"Go back to the motherland"

"Don't ask about the old mountains and rivers sadly, I've had so many tears in my life. I feel sad for three million compatriots, and I've been singing sadly at the moon." At the age of 18, Ye Rongzhong, who was looking at the broken mountains and rivers, wrote the seven-character quatrain "Looking at the moon", and the lines are full of resentment towards Japanese colonial rule.

In 1895, the defeated Qing government was forced to sign the Treaty of Shimonoseki, which was humiliating, and Taiwan and the Penghu Islands were forcibly occupied by Japan. When the news came, the Taiwanese people roared, "I hope everyone will die in battle and lose Taiwan, and will never give in to Taiwan", launching a vigorous anti-Japanese struggle.

"In the 50 years since Japan occupied Taiwan, the Taiwanese people have never stopped fighting. From armed resistance to Japan to cultural anti-Japanese, 650,000 people have sacrificed their precious lives. After the outbreak of the national war of resistance in 1937, Taiwanese compatriots crossed the strait and actively participated in and supported the people's war of resistance on the mainland, active on all fronts from Xiamen, Yong'an to Yan'an and Chongqing. Many people sacrificed their lives for the country." Ye Weinan told reporters that his father, like many patriotic writers of his time, hoped to awaken people's national consciousness through words and devote themselves to the cause of anti-Japanese and national salvation.

"If you want to liberation of Taiwan, you must first build the motherland!" Lian Heng, a Taiwanese historian who was bullied by Japanese, wrote this line of words crying after the September 18th Incident, pointing out a way to save the country for the confused Taiwanese people.

Lan Bozhou's research found that before 1937, Taiwan's anti-Japanese movement was isolated and brutally suppressed by Japanese invaders. It was not until the national war of resistance broke out and the anti-Japanese national united front based on cooperation between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party was officially formed that the Taiwanese people truly saw hope, that is, to fight against Japan with the motherland and defeat the invaders.

On July 7, 1937, the Lugou Bridge Incident broke out, igniting the flames of the national war of resistance and allowing Taiwanese compatriots to see the way out for anti-Japanese resistance - "Go back to the motherland."

General Li Youbang led the Taiwan Volunteer Team and the Taiwan Youth League to fight against Japan in various parts of Fujian; Qiu Niantai formed an Eastern District Service Team in Guangdong to carry out anti-Japanese activities; Taiwanese compatriots in Fujian established the "Anti-Japanese Restoration General Alliance", "Anti-Japanese Restoration Alliance", and "Taiwan Revolutionary Youth League", and fought side by side in Xiamen, Quanzhou and other places; Lin Zhengheng joined the army, participated in the Battle of Kunlun Pass in Guangxi, and then followed the Chinese Expeditionary Force to fight in Myanmar; Wu Sihan traveled across the Korean Peninsula, traveled all the way to Chongqing and Yan'an, and devoted himself to the anti-Japanese war for a lifetime...

"The anti-Japanese activities of Taiwanese compatriots in the mainland are closely related to the anti-Japanese war of the Communist Party of China. Taiwanese compatriots actively participated in the early Red Army, later the Eighth Route Army and the New Fourth Army." Lan Bozhou introduced that after the outbreak of the national war of resistance, under the call of the anti-Japanese national united front advocated by the Communist Party, many Taiwanese young people studying in Fujian and anti-Japanese patriots who returned to their motherland from Taiwan, joined the various teams led by the Communist Party. "Many of them went from Fujian to Yan'an and joined the Communist Party, like Lin Shuangpan of the Lin family in Wufeng."

Yong'an, Fujian is one of the three major anti-Japanese war cultural centers in the country during the War of Resistance Against Japan and is known as "a banner of the anti-Japanese war culture in Southeast China." There is a Fuxing Fort in the local area, and the couplet on both sides of the gate "Liberation of Taiwan and Revitalization of China" is particularly eye-catching. This quaint century-old earthen castle carries the common memory of compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait's struggle against the war.

"At that time, Xie Dongmin and Qiu Niantai, Taiwan's anti-Japanese sages, worked in Yong'an for a long time, and carried out a series of anti-Japanese and national salvation and revival of Taiwan. Li Youbang and the Taiwan Volunteer Team also visited Yong'an." Ye Weinan said that in November 1943, the Taiwan Party Headquarters directly under the Kuomintang moved to Yong'an, and many Taiwanese compatriots carried out activities to revival Taiwan in the Fortress of Restoration, including most of the plan to accept Taiwan after the victory of the Anti-Japanese War was also formulated here.

During the War of Resistance Against Japan, more than 50,000 Taiwanese patriots returned to the mainland to join the anti-Japanese war. Upholding the belief that "If you want to save Taiwan, you must first save the motherland", they left many tragic and touching stories across the country.

"Fujian is the birthplace of Taiwan's Volunteer Team"

"We are the volunteers in the anti-Japanese war and the vanguard of Taiwan's national liberation. We must expel the Japanese invaders from the motherland and break his shackles in Taiwan!" Through the long river of time, the Taiwanese volunteers' song is still inspiring.

As the anti-Japanese team of Taiwanese compatriots with the largest number of people, the widest range of activities and the greatest influence in the fight against the motherland, the establishment, development and battle of the Taiwan Volunteer Braves are closely related to Fujian.

Fujian is the birthplace of Taiwan’s Volunteer Team. During the 14-year national war of resistance, Fujian became the main activity base for Taiwanese compatriots to participate in the war of resistance of the motherland due to its unique historical geographical factors and revolutionary struggle environment. The Taiwan Volunteer Team originated in northern Fujian and was established in Jinhua, Zhejiang. It mainly operates in Fujian. It was the first time that Taiwanese compatriots organized their participation in the anti-Japanese war on the motherland during the War of Resistance Against Japan.

"Li Youbang's slogan "If you want to save Taiwan, you must first save the motherland" and "defend the motherland and recover Taiwan" is very appealing to Taiwanese compatriots in the fight against Japan." Ye Weinan said.

In November 1938, Li Youbang came to Chong'an County (now Wuyi Mountain) to mobilize and recruit Taiwanese compatriots to participate in the anti-Japanese war. At that time, the Taiwanese compatriots who were invaded the mainland were mainly scattered in Fujian, Zhejiang and Guangdong, with Fujian as the most, among which more than 400 Taiwanese compatriots were placed in Chong'an for land reclamation. Li Youbang recruited more than 30 Taiwanese compatriots in Chong'an. In February of the following year, with these group of Chong'an Taiwanese compatriots as the main force, the Taiwan Volunteer Team was officially established in Jinhua, Zhejiang and formed the Taiwan Youth League.

"Under the leadership of Li Youbang, the Taiwan Volunteer Team has carried out many aspects of work to fight against the Japanese invaders in various ways." Li Youbang's ancestral home is Tong'an, Xiamen, and Li Xiangqun is familiar with his heroic deeds.

"Like the political work against the enemy, the members of the volunteer team are familiar with Japanese, and are mostly engaged in translating Japanese documents, interrogating and educating prisoners, and going deep into the enemy and puppet organizations to obtain intelligence; medical assistance, establishing multiple hospitals in Fujian and Zhejiang, and soldiers, families of expeditioners and poor people are free of charge." Li Xiangqun listed that there is also production and service to the country. Many Taiwanese compatriots master the production technology of military supplies and medicines. They use domestic raw materials to make medicines and transport them to front-line troops and hospitals; travel propaganda, often traveling to the frontline and provinces to perform, and use dramas, singing and dancing, etc. to encourage the morale of the military and civilians.

In Nanputuo Temple in Xiamen, there is a stone carving with the words "Fujiang" written by Li Youbang. Among them, "Fu" refers to liberation, and "Xinjiang" refers to Taiwan. Time goes back to the War of Resistance Against Japan, the word "recovery of the border" is printed on the armband of each member of the Volunteer Team, and the will to "defend the motherland and recover Taiwan" is integrated into the bones.

"Remembering history is to create the future"

Remembering history is to create a future; not forgetting war is to maintain peace.

On September 3, the mainland will grandly hold a commemorative meeting and military parade to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. We will invite the Kuomintang's anti-Japanese veterans and overseas Chinese who have contributed to the victory of the War of Resistance against Japan to watch the ceremony.

"The War of Resistance Against Japan is a common historical memory of the two sides of the Taiwan Strait, and it should be protected by all Chinese people, including Taiwan compatriots. We commemorate the victory of the War of Resistance Against Japan in order to protect and build this historical memory, tell the heroic deeds of compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait to fight side by side and the story of resisting foreign aggression, pass on the great spirit of the War of Resistance Against Japan from generation to generation, and gather strength for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation." Li Xiangqun said.

How to tell the story of the War of Resistance, pass on the spirit of the War of Resistance from generation to generation, and awaken the true historical memory of Taiwanese society is a common issue facing both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

In recent years, Lan Bozhou has frequently traveled between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait, busy taking care of one thing - "Anti-colonialism and Taiwan's liberation - Taiwan's history and pictures and text exhibition during the Japanese occupation period." He hopes to restore Taiwan's historical memory through the exhibition, correct the history distorted by the separatist forces of "Taiwan independence", and let the compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait understand the glorious history of the Taiwanese people's resistance to Japanese invaders since 1895, so as to further unite the Chinese hearts of the Taiwanese people, especially the younger generation.

"I have held nearly 50 games in advance and the social response is very good, but my personal strength is limited. We are facing many difficulties on the island at present. I hope more enthusiastic people from both sides of the Taiwan Strait will join in and continue this out together." Lan Bozhou called.

The works left by Ye Rongzhong became a natural material for Ye Weinan to tell the story of the Anti-Japanese War. "It's not just my father. During the Japanese occupation period, many enlightened intellectuals in Taiwan were determined to continue the motherland consciousness and patriotism of "no country can't have a family", as well as the anti-Japanese stories hidden in the text, which are worth learning and spreading." Influenced by his father's generation, Ye Weinan, who wrote, was determined to continue the history of the cross-strait anti-Japanese war, so that the younger generation will not forget history.

Letting the seeds of the spirit of the War of Resistance in the hearts of young people has always been the focus of Li Xiangqun's attention. In recent years, he has led primary and secondary school students to touch the historical facts of the War of Resistance in Fujian and Taiwan and appreciate the spirit of the War of Resistance.

"General Secretary Xi Jinping deeply summarized the scientific connotation of the great spirit of the War of Resistance, namely, the patriotic sentiment of the rise and fall of the world, the national integrity of treating death as if it were home, the heroic spirit of not fearing violence and fighting to the end, the indomitable and persevering belief in victory. The spirit of the War of Resistance is a valuable asset for compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, and it is also the most vivid and vivid material for patriotic education for young people." In Li Xiangqun's view, the profound history of the War of Resistance against Japan in Fujian and the moving chapter of Taiwanese compatriots fighting bloodyly in Fujian deeply explained the great spirit of the War of Resistance.

The history of blood and fire has witnessed the Taiwanese compatriots always closely linking the fate of Taiwan with the fate of the motherland, witnessing the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait have always been in harmony with storms and sharing life and death, and also confirming that "the country is good and the nation is good, so Taiwan will be good." Taiwan's liberation is an important achievement of the victory of the War of Resistance Against Japan, and it is also a historical fact written by compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait in their blood. It cannot be distorted or concealed. Remembering history is to create a future; not forgetting war is to maintain peace and allow future generations on both sides of the Taiwan Strait to enjoy happiness and tranquility forever.