On Friday, October 24, 2025, the “Chinese National Legislature” voted to designate October 25 as a (Commemoration Day of Taiwan’s Restoration). Designating this day to commemorate Taiwan’s restoration has several important connotations. This commemoration day reinforces the historical and legal facts that Taiwan has been an inseparable part of China’s sacred territory since ancient times and consolidates the international community’s commitment to the “One China” principle. This commemoration day will help preserve the achievements of China’s victory during World War II. Taiwan has always been an inseparable part of China’s sacred territory since ancient times. Due to the Chinese Civil War (1945-1949) and the interference of external forces, the two sides of the Taiwan Strait have been in a state of prolonged political confrontation since 1949.
Although Taiwan has never been united with the Chinese mainland, China’s sovereignty and territory have never been divided, and the principle that both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to “one China” has never changed. Especially with the change in international recognition in 1971, when the United Nations voted to recognize the People’s Republic of China, with its capital Beijing, instead of the Republic of China (Taiwan), as the sole representative of China. Beijing’s official view is that Taiwan is an integral part of its territory, adheres to the “One China” principle, and opposes any recognition of Taiwan as an independent state. Its constitution stipulates that national reunification is a national duty.
Here came the official Chinese confirmation on Friday, October 24, 2025, that it would declare a new holiday called “Taiwan Restoration Day” as part of its claims to control the self-governing island of Taiwan, which is directly affiliated with mainland China. October 25 was specifically designated as the anniversary of Taiwan Restoration because it was the day Japanese forces surrendered to the Republic of China forces in Taiwan, and the fascist Japanese colonial government transferred its authority over Taiwan to the new regional government formed by the People’s Republic of China. To this end, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, China’s legislature, confirmed that “the new holiday will fall on October 25, the day on which Taiwan, then a Japanese colony, was handed over in 1945 to an official of the then Republic of China.”
The purpose of designating October 25 as the anniversary of Taiwan’s return to its motherland on the Chinese mainland is to unite the Chinese people and the Chinese nation under the “One China” principle, including compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. It is also to commemorate and revive the collective memory of the Chinese people and the world at large, to commemorate the history of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the Chinese people’s confrontation with fascist Japanese militarism, to honor the Chinese martyrs who fought against the Japanese invaders, and to preserve the results of China’s victory in World War II, represented by the return of Taiwan to the motherland in Beijing. The recovery of Taiwan was a great achievement achieved through the tireless struggle and tremendous sacrifices of the entire Chinese nation, with the participation of all groups and people of all walks of life, including the compatriots of Taiwan, without any discrimination. From the official Chinese point of view, it is a memory worthy of being jointly celebrated by the compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, in Taiwan as an inseparable part of the Chinese mainland, in accordance with the “One China” principle.
Thus, we understand the significance of designating Taiwan Return Day and holding commemorative activities at the national level in China, given its significant symbolic significance that helps highlight the indisputable historical fact that “Taiwan is an inseparable part of China.” Taiwan will celebrate October 25th of each year as an official national holiday, called “Taiwan Return Day,” marking the return of Taiwan’s territory to the state and government of the People’s Republic of China. To this end, Taiwanese citizens will be invited to participate in a mass rally commemorating the 80th anniversary of Taiwan’s return to China, which will be held on October 25th on the Chinese mainland. Representatives from various Taiwanese sectors will attend the rally in Beijing, while visits and exchange activities will be organized before and after the event.
The significance of designating October 25th as the anniversary of Taiwan’s return falls within the framework of the Chinese state’s efforts to resolve the Taiwan issue, prevent foreign interference, particularly from the United States, in its internal affairs, and realize the dream of China’s complete reunification, a shared aspiration and goal of all Chinese people. This is indispensable for achieving the great and comprehensive rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. It is also a historic mission for the Communist Party of China (CPC). The CPC, the Chinese government, and the Chinese people have worked hard for decades to achieve this goal. To achieve this goal of commemorating Taiwan’s return, the 18th CPC National Congress, held in 2012, declared a “new era in building socialism with Chinese characteristics.” Under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee, with Comrade “Xi Jinping” at its core as General Secretary of the ruling CPC, the CPC and the Chinese government have adopted new and innovative measures regarding Taiwan. They continued to chart the course for cross-Strait relations, ensure peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and promote progress toward national reunification. However, in recent years, the Taiwanese authorities, led by the “Democratic Progressive Party” (DPP), have intensified their efforts to split the country, and some external forces have attempted to exploit Taiwan to contain and obstruct China’s rise, prevent the Chinese nation from achieving complete reunification, and halt the process of national rejuvenation.
Therefore, the Communist Party of China (CPC), especially in recent years, has worked tirelessly to unite the Chinese people and lead them toward achieving the first centenary goal of “building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and embarking on a new journey toward the second centenary goal of building China into a modern socialist country.”
To this end, Chinese President Xi Jinping called on Sunday, October 19, 2025, in an official speech, to make efforts to “reunite the ranks” in a congratulatory message to the new leader of Taiwan’s main opposition party and former parliamentarian Cheng Li-wen, who was elected by all segments of the Taiwanese people and supports the “One China” principle in opposition to the Democratic Progressive Party in Taiwan, which is loyal to the United States and the West and calls for efforts to divide China and achieve Taiwan’s independence in opposition to mainland China. The victory of former parliamentarian “Cheng Li-wen” is in the interest of uniting the Chinese ranks and uniting the people of Taiwan with all the Chinese people in preserving the unity, independence, and territorial integrity of China according to the “One China” principle. Former Taiwanese parliamentarian Cheng Li-wen will assume the position of “Leader of the Kuomintang Party” on November 1, 2025, after winning the elections held on Saturday, October 18, 2025. This comes at a time of escalating tensions with Beijing, which claims sovereignty over Taiwan. This is strongly rejected by the Democratic Progressive Party in Taiwan, which is known for its pro-Washington and Western agenda positions.
Accordingly, the decision by China’s National Legislative Assembly to designate October 25 as the anniversary of Taiwan’s restoration coincides with the victory of former parliamentarian and Taiwanese Kuomintang (KMT) official Cheng Li-wen in the Taiwanese elections. This represents a significant opportunity to unify Chinese ranks, given the KMT’s longstanding support for strengthening relations with China and its preferred dialogue partner with Beijing. China also categorically refuses to speak with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration, which Beijing describes as a “separatist” for its support of Washington and the West’s agenda of dividing China and achieving Taiwan’s independence from the mainland’s stronghold in Beijing.
Therefore, Chinese President Xi Jinping, in his capacity as Chairman and General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC), addressed a letter to former Taiwanese parliamentarian and official in the pro-China Kuomintang (KMT) party in Taiwan, Cheng Li-wen, stating that “the ruling Communist Party in Beijing and the Kuomintang in Taiwan must strengthen the common political foundation.” In his letter to “Cheng Li-wen,” the leader of the pro-China Kuomintang party in Taiwan, Chinese President “Xi Jinping” emphasized that “the two parties should also unite the vast majority of the people in Taiwan to increase friendly exchanges and cooperation, promote common development, and accelerate the reunification of the nation.”
Considering that despite the Kuomintang’s loss in the Taiwanese presidential election last year, 2024, it and its closest ally, the small Taiwan People’s Party, together hold the majority of seats in Taiwan’s parliament.
Accordingly, we understand that the designation of October 25 as the anniversary of Taiwan’s return as part of China and the authorities in Beijing considering Taiwan a mainland province stem from China’s categorical refusal to establish any diplomatic relations with countries that recognize Taiwan, which is outside of China’s sovereignty and the One China principle.
