Archive · 28 Sep 2026
Taiwan Challenges Beijing’s World War Two Narrative After Xi-Trump Summit
Taiwan and China disagree about how World War Two should be remembered.
China says communist forces were the backbone of the fighting in China.
Taiwan says the Republic of China government led the country at the time and fought with the Allies.
The Republic of China government moved to Taiwan in 1949 after losing a civil war.
Xi Jinping and Donald Trump recently praised the wartime alliance between China and the United States.
Taiwan worries this could make the United States more accepting of China’s version of history.
Taiwan says this might reduce American support and weapons for the island.
Taiwan’s opposition Kuomintang also says the government uses Republic of China history only when it is politically useful.
Taiwan says Beijing is trying to recast the World War Two narrative around the People’s Republic of China.
Taipei argues the Republic of China government was the United States’ steadfast wartime ally and fought alongside the Allies.
Xi Jinping and Donald Trump highlighted the United States-China wartime alliance at a state dinner in Washington.
Taiwan fears Beijing’s interpretation could influence Washington and weaken American support for the island.
The Kuomintang says President Lai Ching-te’s government also invokes Republic of China history selectively for political purposes.
- Who
- Taiwan’s government, China, the United States, Xi Jinping, Donald Trump, and Taiwan’s Kuomintang opposition party.
- What
- Taiwan is challenging what it describes as Beijing’s effort to reshape the World War Two narrative and diminish the Republic of China’s role.
- When
- The dispute followed a Xi-Trump summit and state dinner the previous week; related comments were made during a Taipei forum on Sunday and after the war’s 80th anniversary last year.
- Where
- The summit and state dinner took place in Washington, while Taiwan’s responses and a related forum took place in Taipei.
- Why
- Taiwan wants Washington to recognize the Republic of China’s wartime role and fears Beijing’s narrative could weaken American support for Taiwan.
Taiwan Government’s Account
Beijing and Kuomintang Perspectives
Who led the wartime effort?
Taiwan Government’s Account
Taiwan says the Republic of China government was the United States’ steadfast ally during World War Two and that Beijing is trying to erase its role.
Beijing and Kuomintang Perspectives
Beijing says communist guerrilla forces were the backbone of the fighting in China, while the Kuomintang says Taiwan’s government is politically exploiting the historical dispute.
How history is being used
Taiwan Government’s Account
Taiwanese officials and scholars say China is using extensive propaganda resources to promote the People’s Republic of China as the central wartime actor and influence United States public opinion.
Beijing and Kuomintang Perspectives
The Kuomintang says Lai Ching-te’s government also uses pre-1949 Republic of China history selectively, reviving it when confronting Beijing and competing for control of the historical narrative.
- Central dispute
- Taiwan says Beijing is attempting to replace the Republic of China’s role in the World War Two historical narrative.
- Beijing’s position
- Beijing says communist guerrilla forces were the “backbone” of the fighting in China, while its official history gives little attention to Republican forces.
- Taiwan’s position
- Taipei says the Republic of China was the United States’ steadfast ally throughout World War Two.
- Xi-Trump summit
- Xi Jinping and Donald Trump recalled that the United States and China were allies and fought side by side in World War Two.
- Taiwan’s concern
- Taipei fears Washington could accept Beijing’s interpretation and reduce support for the island from its most important arms supplier.
- Opposition criticism
- The Kuomintang says Lai Ching-te’s government invokes pre-1949 Republic of China history when politically convenient.
- Historical context
- The Republic of China government moved to Taiwan in 1949 after losing a civil war to Mao Zedong’s communists.
