September 1, 2015
No. 183
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) of the Republic of China held a special event at its headquarters in Taipei on September 1, 2015, to commemorate the 70th anniversary of victory in the War of Resistance Against Japan and Taiwan's retrocession. Hosted by Minister of Foreign Affairs David Y. L. Lin, the event was attended by President Ma Ying-jeou, Vice President Wu Den-yih, Premier Mao Chi-kuo, members of the diplomatic corps, and representatives of domestic and international media. The approximately 200 attendees also included descendants of former US Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, and Dwight D. Eisenhower, as well as prominent military leaders.
In his remarks, Minister Lin introduced five films made by MOFA to coincide with the 70th anniversary celebrations. These films, which were shown at the event, aim to help the international community gain a better understanding of the ROC’s leadership in the fight against Japan, as well as its key role in securing Allied victory in the wider war.
President Ma Ying-jeou, meanwhile, commended MOFA for organizing such an important event on the eve of the 70th anniversary of Japan’s signing of the Instrument of Surrender aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay. President Ma noted that the ROC’s endeavors during the conflict succeeded in tying down some 800,000 Japanese troops in the China theater, frustrating Axis war aims and contributing immensely to the Allied cause.
President Ma also expressed his appreciation to prominent foreign guests at the event, including David B. Roosevelt, Clifton Truman Daniel, and Mary Jean Eisenhower—descendants of the three former US Presidents—as well as Dr. Dimitri de Perlinghi and Prof. Jérome de Perlinghi, descendants of the late Siou-Ling Tsien de Perlinghi, who, while living in Belgium during the war, protected a large number of people targeted by the Nazis.
In addition to the five films, six historically meaningful songs were performed at the event by the Taipei Symphony Orchestra Chorus and local artist Mei Dai.
The aforementioned films are available to the general public on YouTube under the titles “Snapshots of the War of Resistance Against Japan,” “Three Overlooked Facts about WWII,” “Without the Republic of China's Contribution, WWII Would Have Taken a Different Course,” “Why the Republic of China is Owed a Debt of Gratitude,” and “Settlement, Colonialism and Modernity.” (E)