Wartime patriotism and unity advocated in cross-straits development

Mainland scholars and visiting Taiwan politicians Monday called for a revival of patriotism and unity during the past resistance war against Japanese aggression in relations across the Taiwan Straits at a seminar held in Beijing Monday.

"The fundamental reason for China's victory in the resistance war was the strong cohesiveness and vitality generated by patriotism," said Bu Ping, a scholar with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

"Today, such common feelings will continue to inspire compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Straits to jointly push for national reunification and rejuvenation," he said at a seminar held by the mainland-based Cross-Straits Relations Research Center and the visiting New Party delegation from Taiwan.

The 30-member New Party delegation is in the mainland for an eight-day tour, set from July 6 to 13, with the theme of commemorating the victory of China's victory in the war against Japanese aggression.

Yu Keli, a mainland scholar, said Taiwan compatriots always had the motherland in their hearts during the Japanese occupation. With the support of mainland compatriots, they kept fighting and tied up large numbers of Japanese troops. Their deeds alleviated pressure on mainland troops and civilians and won time for China's eventual victory.

"During the 50 years of Japanese colonial rule, the heroic Taiwan people never yielded and had kept fighting Japanese occupation in various ways. We told the aggressors through our actions that we are members of the proud Chinese nation and will never succumb to aggressors," said New Party secretary-general Lee Seng-fong.

Yang Yizhou, a researcher with the All-China Federation of Taiwan Compatriots, said all parties and political forces in China shelved past discord and political differences to jointly fight Japanese aggressors during the war. That's the most important foundation for winning the war.

"At present, the joint effort of political parties and political forces on both sides of the Taiwan Straits in adhering to the 'one China' principle and opposing 'Taiwan independence' are also the most important foundation for improving and developing cross-Straits relations," said Yang.

"Separation brings disaster to the people, while national unity brings happiness to them. That's the message we got from the victory in the resistance war against Japanese aggression," he said.

Xin Qi, deputy secretary-general of the Council for the Promotion of Chinese Culture, said a major fruit of the victory is to recover Taiwan and Penghu islands captured by Japan since 1895, ending the 50-year long Japanese colonial rule over Taiwan people.

"Now if we could drive aggressors away through all-nation unity, I believe we can also find solutions to solving the reunification issue, which is an internal issue of the Chinese people, through our own wisdom," said Xin.

Source: Xinhua