TAIPEI: Taiwan's defense ministry has warned that history proves aggression and expansion ultimately lead to failure, responding to recent comments from China that the island will eventually come under Beijing’s control.
China, which considers Taiwan part of its territory, has increased military activity around the island, including recent drills off Taiwan’s southwestern coast. Beijing described these maneuvers as "routine."
On Thursday, China’s defense ministry dismissed Taiwan’s upcoming Han Kuang military exercises, likening Taiwan’s resistance to "a mantis trying to stop a chariot" and stating that reunification was inevitable.
Taiwan’s defense ministry countered in a statement, accusing China of escalating regional tensions and threatening stability. The ministry labeled Beijing the biggest "troublemaker" in international affairs.
"This year marks 80 years since the end of World War Two, and history has shown that aggression and expansionist ambitions ultimately fail," the statement read. It also accused China’s military of repeating historical mistakes and pushing the country toward potential failure.
Taiwan emphasized its commitment to strengthening its defenses to protect its sovereignty, democracy, and regional stability. The government maintains that only the Taiwanese people can determine the island’s future.
The memory of World War Two remains sensitive in both China and Taiwan. Before Communist forces took power in 1949, the Republic of China (ROC) was the ruling government and played a key role in fighting against Japan. However, Beijing often downplays the ROC’s role in that conflict.
Meanwhile, Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to attend Russia’s upcoming events commemorating the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two.
Taiwan, which was under Japanese colonial rule during the war, saw some of its people serve in Japan’s military.
At a separate event in Taipei marking the anniversary of the 1947 “228 Incident” – a popular uprising against the then-Chinese republican government – Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te warned of continued threats from China.
"The greatest threat to Taiwan's sovereignty, democracy, and the right of our people to determine their own future comes from China," Lai said.
