1 hr ago
Taiwan Alarmed as Russia Screens Soviet Film in Taipei
Russian officials showed an old Soviet movie in Taipei.
The movie was made in 1945 and depicted the Soviet attack on Japanese-held territory.
It also accused Japan’s wartime government of committing atrocities.
Taiwan’s government worries the screening could help China criticize Japan.
Taiwan also fears it could weaken Taiwan’s unofficial relationship with Japan and other Western partners.
Russia says the Soviet Union and China played an important role in defeating Japanese militarism.
China says Taiwan is using the event to stir up anti-China feelings.
The screening was private and no police stopped it.
Taiwan is now watching whether similar events happen again.
Russian officials screened the 1945 documentary “The Defeat of Militarist Japan” for about 20 invited guests in Taipei.
Taiwanese officials believe the screening supports China’s narrative about Japanese militarism and could damage Taipei’s ties with Tokyo and Western partners.
Taiwan’s National Security Council said it was monitoring Chinese-Russian military and “cognitive warfare” cooperation.
Russia defended the historical contributions of the Soviet Union and China in defeating Japanese militarism during World War Two.
The private screening was not shut down, reflecting Taiwan’s balance between free speech and laws against foreign political influence.
- Who
- The Russian office in Taipei hosted the screening for about 20 Taiwanese academics, former journalists, business figures and other public-facing guests; Taiwan officials responded.
- What
- A private screening was held of the 1945 Soviet documentary “The Defeat of Militarist Japan,” also translated by the Russian office as “Smashing Militarist Japan.”
- Where
- In a small meeting room at a downtown Taipei office building.
- When
- The screening took place last week, according to the report; the film was made in 1945.
- Why
- Taiwanese officials believe the screening may support China’s narrative about Japanese militarism, distort historical and political issues, and strain Taiwan’s ties with Japan and Western partners.
Taiwan’s Security Concerns
Russia and China’s Historical Framing
Purpose of the screening
Taiwan’s Security Concerns
Taiwanese officials believe Russia is helping China promote a narrative of renewed Japanese militarism and undermine Taiwan’s relationships with Japan and Western partners.
Russia and China’s Historical Framing
The Russian office presented the event as recognition of the Soviet Union’s and China’s contributions to defeating Japanese militarism, without publicly acknowledging Taiwan’s concerns.
Historical interpretation
Taiwan’s Security Concerns
Taiwan’s National Security Council said Chinese-Russian cooperation could amplify selected topics and distort historical and political issues.
Russia and China’s Historical Framing
China said the Allied powers, including China, Russia and the United States, defeated Japanese militarism and called promoting what it considers a correct World War Two history a shared international responsibility.
Political significance
Taiwan’s Security Concerns
Taiwanese officials see the event as a possible foreign-influence effort that merits monitoring under the island’s security framework.
Russia and China’s Historical Framing
China’s Taiwan Affairs Office dismissed Taiwan’s concerns as an attempt to manipulate anti-China sentiment for political gain.
Key facts
- Film
- “The Defeat of Militarist Japan,” a black-and-white documentary made in 1945.
- Host
- The de facto Russian embassy, or Russian office, in Taipei.
- Audience
- Taiwan’s foreign ministry said about 20 people from the academic world were invited.
- Taiwan’s response
- The National Security Council said it was closely monitoring Chinese-Russian military and “cognitive warfare” cooperation.
- Legal context
- Taiwan protects freedom of speech but also has laws, including the 2019 Anti-Infiltration Act, addressing covert influence by hostile foreign forces.
- Russian position
- The Russian office said the Soviet Union and Chinese people endured heavy casualties and made indispensable contributions to defeating fascism and Japanese militarism.
- Event status
- The screening was invitation-only, and there was no police presence or shutdown.
Quotes
Taiwan’s National Security Council
Taiwan’s highest government body overseeing security and counter-intelligence
“The Soviet Union and the Chinese people endured the heaviest casualties in that war. The contributions they made toward crushing German fascism and Japanese militarism are indisputable and cannot be diminished.”
NDTV
“upholding and promoting a correct historical view of World War Two is the shared responsibility of the international community”
NDTV
Sources
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