Exhibition in Fuzhou Celebrates Taiwanese Heroes and Their Fight Against Japanese Aggression

A significant exhibition opened last weekend in Fuzhou, Fujian Province, illuminating the valor of a special task force from Taiwan. This event, titled the "Taiwan Volunteer Corps Archives," features roughly 240 archival documents and photographs, providing a historical account of Taiwan compatriots' resistance against Japanese invaders during World War II, with support from the Communist Party of China (CPC).

Among the displayed items are about 30 pieces never before shown to the public. These materials chronicle the efforts of the Taiwan Volunteer Corps, a group composed of patriotic Taiwanese who bravely opposed Japanese aggression on the Chinese mainland. The founder of this force, Li Yu-bang, was born in 1906 in Taiwan, to a family that migrated from the Chinese mainland several generations earlier.

Taiwan had been under Japanese colonial rule since the Qing Dynasty ceded it to Japan after the First Sino-Japanese War in 1895. Growing up during this oppressive regime, Li Yu-bang witnessed firsthand the injustices perpetuated by the colonizers. His quest for liberation led him to orchestrate an attack on a Japanese police station in Taipei in 1924, an act that propelled him into the resistance movement. Fleeing to the mainland thereafter, he enrolled in the Whampoa Military Academy in Guangzhou, where his revolutionary zeal flourished.

As Japan initiated a widespread invasion of China in 1937, Li became increasingly aware that the future of Taiwan was intertwined with that of the mainland. In his own words, "To save Taiwan, we must first save our motherland. For the success of Taiwan's revolution, the victory of the nation's resistance is essential." Encouraged by the CPC, he founded the Taiwan Volunteer Corps in 1939 in Jinhua, Zhejiang Province.

What began with just over 30 members rapidly expanded, with many Taiwanese residing in Fujian and Zhejiang joining the cause. Li's initiative also created a youth wing, the Taiwan Youth League, to engage younger generations in patriotic activities, ensuring a sense of unity and involvement.

By 1945, the group had grown to over 380 members and played a pivotal role on the frontline across Zhejiang and Fujian provinces. Their efforts were multifaceted, offering medical support, providing necessary supplies, and participating in various forms of publicity to bolster morale against the Japanese forces. Notably, many members were trained medical professionals who established the first "Taiwan Hospital" in Jinhua, offering free care to soldiers and impoverished civilians. More hospitals soon followed, and mobile medical units provided essential health services to both rural communities and combat zones.

During the Japanese army's germ warfare assaults in 1940, the Taiwan Volunteer Corps responded swiftly by implementing quarantine measures, disseminating epidemic prevention manuals, and disinfecting affected areas, ultimately saving countless lives in the process. Additionally, fluent in Japanese, several members collected intelligence and conducted counter-propaganda to undermine enemy morale.

The culmination of their efforts was marked on October 25, 1945, when the Chinese government reasserted sovereignty over Taiwan. Amidst this celebration, General Li expressed heartfelt emotions, stating, "Today, we can finally return to our hometowns with dignity as patriotic Taiwan compatriots." To commemorate this historic moment, he engraved the characters "fu jiang" on a rock at Wulao Peak in Xiamen, where "fu" denotes restoration and "jiang" signifies territory, specifically referring to Taiwan.

The guiding role of the CPC during this critical period cannot be overstated. Fan Weidong, curator of the Taiwan Volunteer Corps Memorial Hall, emphasized that this contingent was the most extensive and influential team formed by Taiwanese during the war. Writer Lan Po-chou remarked that the united front forged in 1937 sparked hope among Taiwanese for a future return to the motherland, with many seeing their participation as a pathway to liberation from colonial rule.

Overall, more than 50,000 Taiwanese are believed to have returned to the mainland to join the resistance. Jiang Liping, vice-chairman of the Central Committee of the Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League, reiterated the CPC's indispensable role in the victory over aggression, fueling the momentum towards Taiwan's recovery.

Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office, recently denounced attempts to distort this crucial history by current authorities in Taiwan, asserting that neglecting the CPC's contributions is a betrayal to the nation's martyrs. The recent inclusion of the Taiwan Volunteer Corps Archives in China's national documentary heritage list has illuminated this significant part of history, underscoring the inseparable bond shared between the people of Taiwan and the mainland.

One poignant example of personal connection to this narrative is Wang Yanghong, the granddaughter of a Taiwan volunteer corps member. During her visit to the exhibition, she discovered her grandfather's service certificate and a remarkable document listing the names of compatriots who enlisted in 1939, including her ancestors. This moment underscores the deeply entwined legacy of resistance woven into Taiwanese identity and history.