Beijing calls landmark Taiwan protests part of China’s liberation struggle
‘228 incident’ in 1947 was a ‘just action’ against dictatorship that has been hijacked by independence forces for ulterior motives, says Beijing’s Taiwan Affairs Office
Taiwanese authorities have remained mum over remarks by an official from the Chinese mainland that the pro-independence forces on the island had tried to hijack the commemoration of a 1947 massacre to promote their own agenda.
It has also appeared lukewarm over Beijing’s plan to hold a series of activities next week to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the “228 Incident,” as it is known in Taiwan.
An Fengshan, spokesman for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office, said the “228 Incident” was a “just action” by people in Taiwan against dictatorship and to fight for their basic rights.
“It is part of the Chinese people’s liberation struggle,” An said yesterday. “For a long time, this incident has been used by certain Taiwan independence forces for ulterior motives,” he added.
In past elections, the DPP has often invoked the impression of “mainlanders taking advantage of Taiwanese natives,” citing the 228 incident as proof.
