Live broadcast of Beijing's Victory Day parade sparks divided responses in Taiwan

In a statement released on Wednesday, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) of Taiwan expressed their concern over China's military parade held to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Japan's World War II surrender. The DPP condemned the event as an exhibition of Communist Party ambition rather than a commemoration of peace.

The DPP's China affairs department accused Beijing of militarism "taken to the extreme," as the Chinese government chose to display its advanced weapons during the parade. The DPP's criticism did not address the Chinese government's justification for the military parade, but it did express concern over China's use of military power and its potential impact on regional peace.

The DPP denounced Beijing's claim to have been the "pillar" of anti-Japanese resistance as a distortion of history. The DPP also criticized Beijing's efforts to promote a "shared 14-year war of resistance" as a distortion of historical events.

The DPP's criticism of Beijing's narrative suggests a disagreement over the interpretation of historical events. The DPP believes that Beijing is using the parade to intimidate its neighbours with its military might. The DPP department expressed concern about repeated drills by the People's Liberation Army in the Taiwan Strait, South China Sea, and East China Sea.

The military parade in Tiananmen Square was a spectacle attended by top leaders like Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un. No organization is reported to have held a demonstration against the military parade on Wednesday. The event was marked by a grand military parade, with no mention of protests or demonstrations at Tiananmen Square.

The DPP believes that Beijing's narrative is designed to co-opt Taiwanese voices. The DPP's social media post expressed concern that the second world war should have taught humanity the lessons of "opposing aggression" and "pursuing peace," but Beijing chose to showcase troops and weapons instead. The DPP did not specify which particular historical events it considers to have been distorted by Beijing's narrative.

The DPP's criticism of Beijing's narrative does not address the Chinese government's interpretation of the event commemorated by the military parade. However, the DPP denounced the parade as a display of military power that does not focus on peace. The DPP's criticism of the military parade suggests a disagreement between China and Taiwan over the interpretation of the event.

The drills by the People's Liberation Army, according to the DPP, pose a serious threat to regional security. The DPP's concerns highlight the ongoing tension between China and Taiwan, as well as the potential for conflict in the region. The DPP's statement serves as a reminder that historical events and their interpretations can have significant implications for current international relations.