Taiwan calls for unity on 60th anniversary of deadly mainland Chinese attack
As Beijing ramps up pressure on the island, Taiwanese leader Tsai Ing-wen marks assault on Quemoy, saying ‘we will not forget the spirit of solidarity’
Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen called for unity and vowed not to bow to pressure from Beijing on Thursday as the island marked the 60th anniversary of a deadly mainland Chinese artillery attack.
The anniversary of the assault on tiny Quemoy island, known as the “823 bombardment”, comes as Beijing steps up pressure on self-ruling Taiwan, which it sees as part of its territory to be reunified.
The mainland’s People’s Liberation Army fired 470,000 shells at the island – also called Kinmen – and nearby islets in 1958, killing 618 servicemen and civilians in an attack that lasted 44 days.
Quemoy is part of Taiwan, but lies less than 3km (2 miles) off mainland China.
“When we remember the ‘823 bombardment’ 60 years later, we will not forget the spirit of solidarity,” Tsai said on her Facebook page.