Chen Binhua, a spokesperson of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, attends a press conference on May14, 2025. Photo: Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council

The September 3 military parade is a shared moment of pride for all Chinese people, both at home and abroad, marking a historic Victory Day that resonates deeply. It was an occasion for the Chinese people, alongside peace-loving countries worldwide, to commemorate history, honor martyrs, cherish peace, and look toward the future, Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said on Wednesday.

Chen made the remarks during a regular press conference, when asked to comment on that Taiwan compatriots widely praised the mainland's remarkable development achievements and strong military capabilities and expressed heightened national pride. However, they also expressed deep concern over the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities and "Taiwan independence" forces, whose reckless provocations and pursuit of "independence" could lead Taiwan into a dangerous situation.

Chen noted that many compatriots from the Taiwan island watched the parade live, either in person or through various media, expressing that the event was "a pride for the entire Chinese nation." Taiwan island's local media noted that whether Taiwan residents attended in person or followed via television or the internet, they felt a shared sense of honor. 

The year 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. It also marks the 80th anniversary of Taiwan's recovery from Japanese occupation.

The parade evoked a sense of pride among the people of Taiwan island, demonstrating that the shared national identity, rooted in the bloodline of compatriots across the Taiwan Straits, cannot be severed, Zhang Wensheng, deputy dean and professor at the Taiwan Research Institute of Xiamen University, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

In stark contrast to the public sentiment, the DPP, driven by a secessionist mentality, views the development of the Chinese mainland as a threat, said Zhang. This reflects that the DPP authorities are running counter to the will of the people when it comes to cultural identity, national identity and state identity, he added.

The mainstream sentiment on the island of Taiwan favors peace, development, exchange, and cooperation. Lai Ching-te's continuous increase in defense budgets and attempts to seek "independence through military means" only heighten the risks of conflict and instability in Taiwan, causing growing unease among the people, Chen pointed out. 

The fundamental reason the DPP authorities seek to obstruct the natural national sentiments across the Taiwan Straits lies in their attempt to pit the two sides against each other culturally and politically, Zhang said. In essence, such a mindset reveals the ulterior motives of "Taiwan independence" forces, he added.

The DPP authorities not only avoid acknowledging Chinese People's victory in the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and Japan's defeat, but also harbor a deep colonial nostalgia, repeatedly glorifying the history of invaders and colonizers. Their words and actions betray the nation's stance, lack any sense of national integrity, severely hurt the feelings of compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Straits, and challenge the conscience and justice of human society. Such national betrayers have no standing or qualification to make baseless remarks about the history of the War of Resistance or its commemorative activities, Chen said at the Wednesday press conference.