Cheng Li-wen Appeals for Safety, Dignity, Peace, and Future Responsibility on Retrocession Day

Marking the annual Retrocession Day on October 25, Kuomintang Chairperson Zheng Liwen reiterated a dual awareness of historical commemoration and future responsibility during an interview today. Retrocession Day originally commemorates the day in 1945, following the end of World War II, when Taiwan's sovereignty was restored to China from Japanese rule. Historically, it is not only a national narrative promoted by the Kuomintang regime after its relocation to Taiwan, but also serves as an opportunity for Taiwanese society to examine the past and ponder the future. In her remarks, Zheng pointed out that while commemorating history is important, the more crucial task is to shoulder the responsibility of forging the future on that foundation. This stance echoes the Kuomintang's efforts in recent years to reconcile tradition with reform on the political stage.

When addressing Taiwan's future, Zheng emphasized that "security, dignity, and peace" are three indispensable elements. This call resonates with the tense atmosphere across the Taiwan Strait in recent years. Since 2022, amid rising military pressure from the mainland and changing geopolitical dynamics, Taiwan's defense needs have been re-examined. Security refers not only to military defense, but also encompasses information security, supply chain resilience, and disaster protection; dignity pertains to equal status in international participation and sovereign identity; and peace is the fundamental goal of preventing conflict escalation and maintaining regional stability. Zheng's formulation actually summarizes these issues, hinting that the Kuomintang will continue to advocate a framework of "peaceful dialogue" and "common security" in its cross-Strait policies.

However, significant controversies remain between the commemorative significance of Retrocession Day and current security challenges. Some younger generations hold reservations about the historical narrative of "retrocession," believing that an overemphasis on past national narratives may overlook the practical needs of a diverse society. On the other hand, defense experts point out that Taiwan must possess the "ability to defend itself" to maintain its subjectivity under external pressure. The "ability to defend itself" mentioned by Zheng refers not only to enhancing military combat capability, but also includes strengthening civil defense, raising public defense awareness, and promoting the localization of the defense industry. These directions echo the government's recently promoted "Defense Industry Innovation Program," indicating that a consensus on enhancing defense self-sufficiency is gradually forming among political parties across the political spectrum.

Beyond defense strategy, Zheng also mentioned "the wisdom to resolve hostility" and "the determination to avoid war." These two points are particularly crucial in the context of cross-Strait interactions. Over the past few years, the mainland has continued to escalate military exercises and diplomatic pressure, while Taiwan has sought greater substantive participation on the international stage. How to reduce the risk of miscalculation through dialogue and mutual trust mechanisms without abandoning sovereignty has become a core issue in cross-Strait relations. The Kuomintang has historically advocated peaceful cross-Strait development, and Zheng's statement can be seen as a reaffirmation of the party's commitment to "peace" at the symbolic moment of Retrocession Day, while also calling on all parties to maintain restraint and rationality during times of crisis.

Finally, Zheng emphasized that "preparation for risks" is not only about military preparedness, but also covers the construction of society-wide resilience. From pandemic prevention experience to responses to natural disasters, Taiwan has demonstrated considerable self-adjustment capacity in past crises. To maintain stability amidst changing international environments and regional security challenges in the future, protection and response mechanisms must be simultaneously upgraded at the political, economic, and cultural levels. The commemoration of Retrocession Day reminds people that the lessons of history and current challenges are equally important; only by building on a foundation of respecting the past can Taiwan forge a future characterized by security, dignity, and peace. (Source of facts: Central News Agency)