By Dustin T. S. Yang
Deputy Representative of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines
At the recent anniversary event of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army held in the Philippines on July 30, 2025, Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian claimed that “Taiwan’s return to China was a key outcome of the victory in World War II.”
Let me be absolutely clear: this assertion is a blatant distortion of historical truth, designed not only to mislead but also to justify the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) illegal and illegitimate claims over Taiwan.
A basic fact of history must be emphasized: the PRC was founded in 1949, four years after the conclusion of World War II in 1945. It was the Republic of China (ROC), not the PRC, that fought as part of the Allied Powers during the war, including alongside the United States and the Philippines. The PRC played no role in the wartime alliance and did not even exist at the time.
Ambassador Huang’s statement reflects nothing more than the PRC’s revisionist historical narrative—one that attempts to insert itself into a victory it neither earned nor participated in. This is not only disingenuous but an affront to the sacrifices made by the real Allied nations.
The Cairo Declaration (1943) and Potsdam Declaration (1945), respectively are the key diplomatic instruments of the postwar order and clearly affirmed that Taiwan should be restored to the Republic of China (ROC). The PRC was not a signatory to either. Nor did it take part in the Cairo Conference, Potsdam negotiations, or sign the Japanese Instrument of Surrender in 1945.
Moreover, the PRC was not party to either the Treaty of San Francisco (1951) or the Treaty of Taipei (1952), which addressed Japan’s postwar obligations and the status of Taiwan. Simply put, the PRC has no legal, historical, or moral basis to claim sovereignty over Taiwan.
The Cairo Declaration could not be clearer: “Formosa and the Pescadores shall be restored to the Republic of China.”
It is dishonest for Beijing to retroactively claim this language refers to the PRC, which did not even exist at the time. The Republic of China refers to the ROC—whose government today resides in Taiwan and continues to uphold democratic governance.
We are witnessing a broader campaign of historical falsification and revisionism, an obvious attempt by Beijing to rewrite the legacy of World War II and obscure the contributions of the ROC, the United States, the Philippines, and other true Allied nations who fought for freedom and democracy.
Ambassador Huang also invoked the so-called One-China Policy and misrepresented United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 (1971). Let us be precise: Resolution 2758 solely resolved the issue of China’s representation at the UN. It does not mention Taiwan, much less confer sovereignty over Taiwan to the PRC. To suggest otherwise is a deliberate misreading of the resolution’s scope.
Taiwan, officially the Republic of China, is a sovereign, democratic, and self-governed state. It has a functioning government, independent judiciary, professional military, diplomatic missions, currency, and passport. Its people elect their leaders through free and fair elections. The PRC has never governed Taiwan—not for a single day.
We urge governments, international organizations, the media, and freedom-loving peoples around the world to reject Beijing’s false narrative. Stand against coercion and historical distortion. Stand with Taiwan, a reliable democratic partner dedicated to peace, freedom, and regional stability.
Only the democratically elected government of Taiwan has the authority to represent its people.
Taiwan will continue to stand firm, and in close partnership with like-minded countries such as the Philippines, we will work to uphold our shared values, defend democratic freedoms, and promote enduring peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.
Editor’s Note: Dustin T. S. Yang, Deputy Representative of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines, replies to the Chinese Embassy’s remark from Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian claiming that “Taiwan’s return to China was a key outcome of the victory in World War II.”