Beijing declares annual Taiwan restoration commemoration

Beijing has officially designated October 25 as “Taiwan Restoration Day,” asserting sovereignty over the island. The National People’s Congress approved the move Friday.

The date marks the 80th anniversary of Japan’s surrender in Taiwan in 1945, ending 50 years of occupation. Beijing calls it proof of China’s “recovery of sovereignty” and a way to reinforce the one-China principle.

Cross-strait tensions remain high after Taiwan’s pro-independence leader William Lai took office last year. Beijing labels him a separatist and has ramped up military and political pressure.

China plans commemorative events and will invite Taiwanese guests, but Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party warns citizens against participating.

One China Principle

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Guo Jiakun, on Friday reiterated that peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait require upholding the one-China principle and opposing "Taiwan independence."

Responding to comments by German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, Guo stressed that Taiwan is part of China and the PRC is its sole legal government. He warned that separatist activities and external support for them threaten cross-Strait stability, urging Germany to strictly adhere to the one-China principle.

One Country-Two Systems

China has long emphasized that Taiwan is an inseparable part of its territory and reaffirmed its goal of complete reunification.

The government highlighted the historical and legal basis for the “one country, two systems” framework, first proposed in the 1950s and formalized in the 1980s, which allows Taiwan to maintain its existing social, economic, and political systems under Chinese sovereignty.

Beijing has stressed that any attempts to split China will fail, and that peaceful reunification remains the aspiration of all Chinese people, including those in Taiwan.