Taiwan Criticizes Beijing's Military Parade

The head of the Taiwan administration, Lai Ching-te, stated that "Taiwan does not celebrate peace with cannon barrels." This is how he commented on the large-scale military parade in Beijing dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.

Lai noted in a social media post that the document on Japan's surrender was signed on behalf of China by General Hsu Yung-chang of the Republican Army, and the victory was the result of the sacrifices of the army and people of the Republic of China.

Lai noted that it is gratifying that the former "Axis" countries have become democratic states. But the parade, during which PRC President Xi Jinping sat with Russian President Vladimir Putin and DPRK leader Kim Jong Un, was perceived in Taipei as a show of threat.

Taiwanese authorities have emphasized that the Communist Party, which rules in China today, did not contribute to the war against Japan.

After being defeated in a civil war with the communists in 1949, the government of the Republic of China fled to Taiwan. Until the 1970s, it was considered the legitimate government of all of China, and it was its representative who sat in the UN.

Beijing had invited Taiwanese veterans to participate in the parade. However, the region called on citizens to refrain from participating. Government employees of all levels on the island and former military personnel were forbidden to participate in the parade or other commemorative events, under the threat of losing their pensions.