ANALYSIS/Lai's WWII remarks warn of China's bid to reshape world order: Analysts

Taipei, Oct. 10 (CNA) A senior official said Saturday that President Lai Ching-te's (賴清德) emphasis on preserving the historical facts of World War II in his National Day address highlighted concerns over Beijing's efforts to undermine the postwar international order.

Lai delivered his National Day address as Taiwan marked the 115th anniversary of the founding of the Republic of China (ROC), the country's formal name, declaring that "distortions" of World War II history must not be tolerated, a point he was making for the first time as president.

Concerns over WWII history distortion

In speaking about geopolitical challenges facing Taiwan, Lai said he welcomed U.S.-China dialogue to manage competition and reduce the risk of conflict, while stressing that regional peace and stability require a correct understanding of how history unfolded.

"There must be no tolerance for distorting the history of World War II. There must be respect for the right of the people of Taiwan to exist," Lai said.

"And above all, democracies in the Indo-Pacific must join forces to ensure the status quo of peace and stability in the region is not changed," he continued.

The remarks came after Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) and U.S. President Donald Trump recalled U.S.-China cooperation during World War II at their meeting in Washington late last month.

During World War II, China was governed by the Republic of China (ROC), which fought alongside the United States. The ROC government relocated to Taiwan after the war. The People's Republic of China (PRC), led by Xi, was established in 1949, four years after the war ended. From 1895-1945, Taiwan was a colony of Japan and many Taiwanese were conscripted to serve in the Japanese military.

Risks to international order

By pointing to Beijing's "distortion" of World War II history, Lai cautioned against the risks posed by its attempts to overturn existing international rules and disrupt the status quo, a senior official who wished to remain anonymous told CNA.

Taiwan's commitment to maintaining the status quo is not only about defending the country's right to exist, but also about upholding the postwar principle that peace and freedom should not be coerced through violence or threats, the official said

Wang Hung-jen (王宏仁), a political science professor at National Cheng Kung University, said Beijing has long promoted a narrative portraying today's China as having fought side by side with the U.S. in World War II, as Xi recently did during his meeting with Trump.

Against this backdrop, Lai's emphasis on "distortions of World War II history" in his National Day address was significant, he said.

Beijing's distortion of WWII history could also distort the interpretation of wartime documents, affecting how Taiwan's sovereign status is viewed, Wang noted.

Another Presidential Office official said Lai's support for U.S.-China dialogue to reduce risks, as well as his call for Beijing to return to a rules-based international order, were also noteworthy.

Lai took the opportunity to tell the international community that Taiwan supports dialogue, while stressing that any peaceful arrangement regarding Taiwan must respect its people's right to choose their future, the official told CNA.

Cross-strait stance unchanged

On cross-strait relations, Wang said that Lai's remarks were consistent with his administration's previous position and did not represent a change in policy.

Wang said Lai stressed the need to maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, called for defense reforms and stronger resilience across society, and signaled that Beijing should not use gray-zone tactics or military coercion against Taiwan.

Lin Tzu-li (林子立), a political science professor at Tunghai University, said that given the current international situation, maintaining the Taiwan Strait status quo is key to cross-strait stability.

By reiterating the need to maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait in the address, Lai implicitly endorsed a "no independence, no unification" stance, countering Beijing's repeated claims that Taiwan is responsible for disrupting the cross-strait status quo, Lin said.

Biblical metaphors

In the address, Lai used several biblical metaphors to describe Taiwan as "a city upon a hill," "the salt of the earth" and "the light of the world," which political scholars interpreted in different ways.

According to the Presidential Office official, the "city upon a hill" reflects Taiwan's aspirations for its future, while "the salt of the earth" embodies democracy and self-defense as ways to maintain peace and provide stability in a turbulent region.

The "light of the world" reflects Taiwan's contributions to the international community through its economic development, technological advances and other areas, the official said.

Kuo Yu-jen (郭育仁), vice president of the Institute for National Policy Research, said "city upon a hill" is a distinctive U.S. political phrase referring to the idea of a society serving as a model for others, famously used by former President Ronald Reagan and other U.S. presidents.

Its use in Lai's National Day address underscored the shared founding values between the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the U.S., as well as Taiwan's ties with other democracies, Kuo said.

The wording shows how Taiwan sees its role in the world and its aspiration to serve as a model, while contrasting with China's political system, Wang said.

Lin said Lai's use of "city upon a hill" was meant to inspire confidence among Taiwanese, pointing to Taiwan's democratic and economic performance despite China's threats and challenges facing Western countries, including rising populism, limited economic growth and mounting debt.