Ma heeds lessons of past in war victory celebrations

2015/09/03

President Ma Ying-jeou said Sept. 1 that in commemorating the ROC’s victory in the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945), the nation is seeking to uphold lasting peace by learning the lessons of history.

“While mistakes of the past can be forgiven, the truth must not be forgotten,” Ma said. “This memorial event is significant as 2015 marks the 70th anniversary of the end of the longest and most devastating conflict in the nation’s history.”

The president made the remarks during a commemorative function at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters in Taipei City.

Attended by ambassadors from the ROC’s diplomatic allies, foreign representatives to Taiwan and the descendants of former U.S. presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman, the event also included a special screening of five short films previously released by the MOFA via its Trending Taiwan YouTube channel.

The videos, which reveal many lesser-known facts about the ROC’s contributions and sacrifices during the conflict, are immensely popular. Since uploading July 8, they have attracted combined 125,000-plus views.

According to Ma, the ROC armed forces suffered 3.2 million casualties while fighting against a more modernized foe several times its size, with the civilian death toll estimated at over 20 million.

“Such heroics in the eight-year war succeeded in tying down 800,000 Japanese troops armed with the latest weapons, and enabled the Allies to eventually prevail in World War II,” he said, adding that the victory played a pivotal role in the ROC’s history as it helped re-establish the nation’s sovereignty.

“The leaders of the ROC, U.K. and U.S. were in agreement that all the territories Japan obtained from the Chinese, such as Manchuria, Formosa [Taiwan] and the Pescadores [Penghu Islands], should be restored to the ROC,” Ma said, citing the Cairo Declaration of 1943 and Potsdam Proclamation of 1945.

“Further evidence can be found in the instrument of surrender signed by Japan in September 1945, which states that Tokyo would carry out the provisions of said declarations.”

Ma said he is pleased to see the nation’s contribution to post-war peace and stability gaining increased recognition, with the valiant sacrifices of the ROC armed forces and citizenry appreciated anew at home and abroad.

“It is important to remember history. This year’s commemorative activities serve as a salient reminder for the peoples of formerly warring nations to follow the path of peace and mutual understanding by learning from the past.”

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=234519&ctNode=413)