Taiwan is pushing back against what it views as Beijing’s attempt to shape the historical account of China’s role in World War II after Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump highlighted the two countries’ wartime alliance during their recent summit.
The issue has raised concerns in Taipei that Washington could increasingly adopt Beijing’s interpretation of the conflict, potentially affecting US support for Taiwan.
Taiwan argues that the Republic of China (ROC), rather than the People’s Republic of China, was the Chinese government that fought alongside the Allies during World War II. The Communist government that established the People’s Republic of China came to power in 1949, after the Chinese civil war.
At a state dinner in Washington, Xi and Trump praised the wartime cooperation between the United States and China. A White House fact sheet said the two leaders recalled that the countries had been allies and fought together during the war.
Taiwanese officials say Beijing is seeking greater influence over how the history of the war is understood internationally. However, Taiwan’s own political parties differ over how the ROC’s wartime history should be presented.
The dispute adds another layer to already sensitive US-China relations over Taiwan, with historical narratives increasingly intersecting with present-day diplomatic and security concerns.
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