• China is set to hold an event marking the 80th anniversary of Taiwan's "retrocession" from Japan.
• The celebration, scheduled for this weekend, invites attendees from Taiwan despite government opposition.
• Taiwan's leadership criticizes China's narrative and has banned officials from participating in the event.
• Historical interpretations of the "retrocession" continue to be a source of contention between the two sides.
• The event is seen as part of China's broader strategy to assert claims over Taiwan.

China has announced plans to hold a celebration to mark the 80th anniversary of Taiwan's "retrocession" from Japan this weekend at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. The Taiwanese government, which views the event as an attempt by China to promote its interpretation of history, has warned its officials against attending the celebrations. The term "retrocession" refers to the handover of Taiwan from Japanese colonial rule to the Republic of China government in 1945, a narrative both sides claim as part of their history, according to Reuters and Channel News Asia.

Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for China's Taiwan Affairs Office, emphasized the importance of the anniversary, calling it "an important achievement of the victory in the war of resistance against Japanese aggression." Zhu further stated that it "deserves to be commemorated by compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait," underlining China's perspective that the event symbolizes a shared history, according to South China Morning Post and Channel News Asia.

This year's celebration comes at a time when tensions are heightened between Beijing and Taipei. The Taiwanese government argues that it was the Republic of China, which fled to Taiwan after losing the civil war, that fought in the World War II, thus contesting China's claims related to the "retrocession." In response, Taiwan has prohibited its officials from attending any events related to the anniversary, labeling them as part of Beijing's propaganda efforts, as reported by South China Morning Post and Reuters.

Historically, Beijing hosts commemorative events approximately every five years, often inviting representatives from Taiwan. While some Taiwanese public figures may attend, the ruling Democratic Progressive Party has cautioned against participating in these activities to prevent endorsing what they consider distorted narratives of history by the mainland. The divide in perception emphasizes the political and ideological rift between the two sides, as discussed in South China Morning Post.

In addition to the official celebrations, Taiwanese authorities have highlighted October 25 as a date significant for the island's defense history, commemorating a military victory over communist forces, further illustrating historical rivalries that shape current political narratives. The ongoing tensions reflect China's increase in diplomatic and military pressure regarding Taiwan, characterized by recent statements from Taiwanese leaders asserting their sovereignty, according to Reuters and Channel News Asia.