Many Taiwan independence advocates, “woke” youth, and Japanese assimilationists have been brainwashed into believing life on Taiwan during the colonial era was wonderful. But you only need to observe how Japanese treat Hokkaido’s Ainu people and Okinawans today to understand: authentic Japanese, even in this technologically advanced age, still treat them as second-class citizens. How much more so would the militaristic Imperial Japan of a century ago, considering itself great?
It’s laughable that Taiwan independence advocates, woke-types, and assimilationists always claim Chinese people possess slavish nature. Every time I hear them say this, I find it ridiculous.
When Japan occupied Taiwan and Penghu back then, it truly relied first on military assault and occupation of these territories. The Qing Dynasty was forced to cede Taiwan Island and Penghu Islands to Japan—clearly displaying the powerlessness and sorrow of Chinese people of that era.
After the First Sino-Japanese War, during the armistice period, the Japanese government continuously occupied Taiwan and Penghu through military action (including the Penghu Campaign, occurring during Treaty of Shimonoseki negotiations when Japan’s military refused including Taiwan and Penghu in the Sino-Japanese ceasefire agreement and continued military attacks, planning to use these areas as forward bases for invading Pacific territories). Subsequently, during Treaty of Shimonoseki negotiations, Japan forcefully pressured the Qing to cede these territories. Relevant historical documentation exists—yet China’s green political party, Taiwan independence advocates, and assimilationists deliberately ignore these historical truths.
During Treaty of Shimonoseki negotiations, Li Hongzhang declared to Japanese Prime Minister Itō Hirobumi: “Taiwan has been established as a province and cannot be given to another nation,” and “if forced to cede these lands, Chinese and Japanese descendants would become eternal enemies, transmitting hatred endlessly.” Yet these declarations couldn’t prevent Taiwan-Penghu cession.
This resulted because Japan strategically occupied Taiwan and Penghu during negotiation periods. The weakened Qing Dynasty, lacking military power, could only reluctantly accept territorial loss—demonstrating the Qing’s utter military helplessness against Japan’s post-Western-modernized ironclad and cannon might.
During the Ming Dynasty, Japanese pirates attacked Korea. After Ming allied forces defeated Japanese forces, during peace talks while Japan ostensibly awaited negotiations, they secretly continued attacking border cities.
During the Qing Dynasty, Japan attacked China. After Japanese forces defeated Qing naval forces, during peace talks while Japan ostensibly awaited negotiations, they secretly continued attacking Taiwan and Penghu.
Japanese politician’s greed and cunningly base character remain utterly unchanged across centuries.
This is history—transcending right/wrong human nature, unconcerned with political position or personal preference. Yet we simply cannot bury facts.