Taiwan unveils plans to mark 80th anniversary of WWII's end

Taipei, March 26 (CNA) Taiwan's military will be holding artistic exhibits and a concert among other events to mark the conclusion of the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II as the 80th anniversary of the end of the wars approaches.

Major General Lou Wei-chieh (樓偉傑) of the Ministry of National Defense (MND) said the events, themed "Fighting aggression, Protecting the homeland," will include a photo exhibit staged at 34 selected bus stations in Taipei City, showcasing military-related photographs.

In addition, a memorial concert will be staged in the Taipei International Convention Center and an outdoor carnival will be held at Xiangti Avenue Plaza in Xinyi District, said Lou, head of the Political Warfare Bureau's Cultural and Political Division.

The MND will also work with the Taiwan International Model Hobby Development Association to hold a military-themed model show and an artistic exhibition at National Taiwan Library, Lou said at an MND weekly news briefing.

Aside from cultural events, the ministry is working with the private sector to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the ending of WWII, he said.

The Taipei-based Kuai Kuai Co., known for its widely popular Kuai Kuai bistro series of snacks, will present three limited editions of snacks of the same name.

The snacks' packaging will be adorned with three different themes related to the Republic of China's (ROC) role in WWII, according to the one-star general. The ROC is Taiwan's official name,

Lou said the upcoming series of celebrations are meant to deploy a softer approach to mark the conclusion of the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II and the ROC's role in the two wars.

"We want to highlight that we are sharing the ideals and beliefs upheld by our predecessors in defending against aggression and safeguarding the ROC's survival and development," Lou added.

It was not immediately clear if there will be additional events held by other agencies to mark the anniversary.

The Second Sino-Japanese War was fought between the ROC and the Empire of Japan between 1937 and 1945. It is considered part of World War II from 1939 to 1945, and often regarded as the beginning of World War II in Asia.

The ROC was based in mainland China when the Second Sino-Japanese War began.

It then officially declared war against Japan, Germany, and Italy in 1941 after Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, and the ROC won the war in 1945.

The ROC government, led by Kuomintang (KMT) leader Chiang Kai-shek (蔣中正), relocated to Taiwan in 1949 after losing a civil war with Mao Zedong's (毛澤東) communists. Mao's Chinese Communist Party established the PRC in Beijing that same year.

Over the years, Beijing has largely downplayed the role of the KMT forces in winning the Second Sino-Japanese war and WWII, while Taiwan insisted that it was the ROC and not the PRC that defended China against Japanese invasion back then.

Defense Minister Wellington Koo (顧立雄) said earlier this month that he PRC was not established until in 1949, years after the conclusion of Second Sino-Japanese War.

It was therefore impossible for the PRC to take credit for a war that happened before it was established, he said, calling it "very simple logic."

The PRC announced earlier this year that it will be holding a series of celebrations to mark the 80th anniversary in 2025, but has yet to give details.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) has accepted Russia's invitation to attend the commemorations of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War II, Russian media said this month.

The PRC is also planning a military parade to commemorate the event, to which Putin has been invited to join Xi, according to Hong Kong media.