Wang Yingjin: 'Taiwan-independence Forces Becoming Increasingly Nazi-like' - WWII Anniversary Narrative - Ren Ping's Advice to Cadres & China Watchers on Interpreting Xi

Here are the key reports and articles that I found noteworthy from the People’s Daily’s edition on Thursday, August 28, 2025.

Page 1: The lead article today is a feature marking the “80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War”. The headline clarifies the intent: “Carry forward the great spirit of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and forge ahead with the great cause of national rejuvenation”.

The article reiterates that the Communist Party was “the mainstay of the entire nation’s war of resistance!”

“From the outbreak of the September 18th Incident, when the Communist Party of China issued anti-Japanese declarations, to formulating the Ten-Point Programme for Resisting Japan and Saving the Nation, clearly proposing the line of comprehensive resistance against Japan, and to the battlefields behind enemy lines gradually becoming the main battlefield of the national war of resistance…at the historical moment of national peril, the Communist Party of China, with outstanding political leadership, promoted the establishment of the Anti-Japanese National United Front, rallying a powerful force resisting foreign aggression. The victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japan was a great victory of the Communist Party of China playing the role of the mainstay, and a great victory of the whole nation standing united as one and fighting bravely in resistance.” 从九一八事变爆发，中国共产党发表抗日宣言，到制定抗日救国十大纲领，明确提出全面抗战的路线，再到敌后战场逐步成为全国抗战的主战场……在民族危亡的历史关头，中国共产党以卓越的政治领导力，推动建立抗日民族统一战线，凝聚起反抗外来侵略的滚滚洪流。中国人民抗日战争胜利是中国共产党发挥中流砥柱作用的伟大胜利，是全民族众志成城奋勇抗战的伟大胜利。

“The great spirit of the War of Resistance is a towering spiritual monument, and even more an inextinguishable torch of faith. It illuminated the blood-and-tears journey of national salvation and survival, and is now illuminating the new journey of the Chinese nation toward great rejuvenation.” 伟大的抗战精神，是一座巍峨的精神丰碑，更是一支不灭的信仰火炬。它照亮过救亡图存的血泪征途，也正在照亮中华民族走向伟大复兴的新征程.

The second section of this article is worth reading in entirety:

Justice is manifested through its defense. The great victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japan reestablished China’s status as a major power in the world, the Chinese people won the respect of peace-loving peoples of the world, and the Chinese nation earned a lofty national reputation! In May this year, at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, President Xi Jinping paid a state visit to Russia and attended the celebrations commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory in the Great Patriotic War. In the bright spring sunshine, President Xi Jinping and President Putin signed and issued a joint statement, sending a strong message for the times to remember history and cherish peace: ‘Humanity should always remember the tragedy of World War II, its causes, and its lessons, and make every effort to prevent a similar tragedy from happening again.’ Only by sincerely facing the past can one speak of peace with dignity and righteousness. On July 7 this year, at the occasion of commemorating the 88th anniversary of the outbreak of the nationwide War of Resistance, the Exhibition Hall of Evidence of Crimes of Unit 731 of the Japanese Army of Invasion of China displayed the oral testimony of former Unit 731 member Kurumizawa Masakuni. In the 83-minute-long video, Kurumizawa Masakuni confessed to Unit 731’s crimes of conducting human dissections, carrying out human experiments, and implementing biological warfare. This is yet another ‘living evidence’ exposing the crimes of Unit 731. The monstrous crimes committed by Japanese militarism were a brutal trampling upon life and human rights, and also a grave challenge to human civilisation. This determined that the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japan, from the very beginning, was a contest between justice and evil, light and darkness, progressive and reactionary forces.” 正义因捍卫而昭彰中国人民抗日战争的伟大胜利，重新确立了中国在世界上的大国地位，中国人民赢得了世界爱好和平人民的尊敬，中华民族赢得了崇高的民族声誉！今年5月，应俄罗斯总统普京之邀，习近平主席对俄罗斯进行国事访问并出席纪念苏联伟大卫国战争胜利80周年庆典。明媚的春光里，习近平主席同普京总统签署并发表联合声明，发出铭记历史、珍视和平的时代强音——“人类应永远铭记第二次世界大战悲剧及其原因和教训，尽一切努力阻止类似悲剧重演。”只有真诚面对过去，才能堂堂正正谈论和平。今年7月7日，纪念全民族抗战爆发88周年之际，侵华日军第七三一部队罪证陈列馆在馆内展出731部队原成员胡桃泽正邦的口述证言。长达83分钟的视频中，胡桃泽正邦供述了731部队从事人体解剖、开展人体实验以及实施细菌战等罪行。这是揭露731部队罪行的又一个“活证据”。日本军国主义犯下的滔天罪行，是对生命和人权的粗暴践踏，也是对人类文明的严重挑战。这决定了中国人民抗日战争从一开始就是一场正义与邪恶、光明与黑暗、进步与反动之间的较量.

The next part of this section talks about the support that Chinese people received from the outside world. It mentions Canadian surgeon Norman Bethune. There’s a mention of Soviet fighter pilot Grigori Kulishenko. “The Soviet Air Force aiding China was a unique air combat unit in the Chinese War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. Over 80 years ago, over 2,000 Soviet pilots flew in, soaring through the skies, leaving behind countless inspiring and moving stories.” 苏联援华航空队，中国抗日战场上一支特殊的空中作战队伍。80多年前，2000多名苏联飞行员驾机而来，“鹰击长空”，留下无数可歌可泣的传奇故事.

It mentions the Flying Tigers, i.e., American Volunteer Group of the Republic of China Air Force, Indian doctor Dwarkanath Kotnis, German businessman John Rabe, Danish businessman Bernhard Arp Sindberg, British journalist Michael Lindsay and internationalist fighter Hans Shippe. After this, the section says:

“The lessons of the past are clear, the warning to later generations is stern. Eighty years have passed, but the truth revealed by that war remains unshakable: the great way/universal truth shines bright, justice must prevail! The Chinese people bear a deep memory of the suffering brought about by war and an unwavering pursuit of peace. Having made immense sacrifices, the Chinese people will unwaveringly defend the history written with blood and lives. This summer, the poignant film ‘Dead To Rights’ (also ‘Nanjing Photo Studio’) was released, moving audiences to tears. Every day, the bell rings at the Memorial Hall of the Victims of the Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders, and listeners stand still in solemn reflection. History is the best teacher; it faithfully records the footprints left behind, and also provides enlightenment for future development. As we reflect on the devastation of yesterday and ponder the significance of victory, we must remain vigilant against the challenges of the present: the resurgence of unilateralism and protectionism, and the impact of hegemonism and power politics on the world. In the face of great changes unseen in a century, how can we safeguard the hard-won peace? How can we promote common development? These are questions that must be answered by our times.” 昭昭前事，惕惕后人。八十载光阴流逝，那场战争所昭示的真理颠扑不破：大道煌煌，正义必胜！中国人民对战争带来的苦难有着刻骨铭心的记忆，对和平有着孜孜不倦的追求。付出了巨大牺牲的中国人民，将坚定不移捍卫用鲜血和生命书写的历史。今年夏天，电影《南京照相馆》沉重上映，观者热泪盈眶。每天，侵华日军南京大屠杀遇难同胞纪念馆都会响起钟声，听者沉思肃立。历史是最好的老师，它忠实记录下走过的足迹，也给未来的发展以启示。当我们回望昨日的浩劫、思考胜利的意义时，不能不警惕当下的挑战：单边主义、保护主义回潮，霸权主义、强权政治冲击世界。面对百年变局，如何守护来之不易的和平？怎样推动共同发展？这是必须回答的时代命题.

“China has released ‘China’s Position on the Political Settlement of the Ukrainian Crisis’, playing a constructive role in promoting a political solution to the crisis; it has facilitated a historic reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Iran, setting an example for regional countries in resolving conflicts and promoting good neighbourly relations. China, responding with action, is unwavering in its resolve to safeguard peace. China’s commitment to a path of peaceful development stems from objective assessments of history, present reality, and the future. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasised, ‘We can think of no reason not to persist on this path that has been proven viable through practice’. This May, the logo commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese people’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War was released. The towering Great Wall, symbolising the entire nation’s united and brave resistance, complements the olive branch that signifies the Chinese people joining with peoples of all countries to cherish peace and maintain peace. ‘Humanity lives in the same global village, in the same time and space where history and reality intersect, increasingly becoming a community with a shared future where you are in me and I am in you.’ This major assessment flashes with ideological brilliance, and illuminates the future of humanity. Looking back over the long course of history and facing the tide of our times, we believe that the sunshine of peace, development, and progress will eventually penetrate the haze of war, poverty, and backwardness...Green mountains cannot stop the river’s flow; after all, they flow east. Peace, likewise, has always been China’s purpose!” 发布《关于政治解决乌克兰危机的中国立场》，为推动危机政治解决发挥建设作用；促成沙特伊朗历史性和解，为有关地区国家化解矛盾、睦邻友好树立典范……中国，以行动作答，捍卫和平的决心无比坚定。中国走和平发展道路，是从历史、现实、未来的客观判断中得出的结论。习近平总书记强调：“我们想不出有任何理由不坚持这条被实践证明是走得通的道路。”今年5月，中国人民抗日战争暨世界反法西斯战争胜利80周年纪念活动标识发布。象征全民族众志成城奋勇抗战的巍峨长城，与寓意中国人民同各国人民团结起来珍爱和平、维护和平的橄榄枝相得益彰。“人类生活在同一个地球村里，生活在历史和现实交汇的同一个时空里，越来越成为你中有我、我中有你的命运共同体。”重大判断闪烁着思想光辉，映照着人类未来。纵览历史长河，直面时代大潮，相信和平、发展、进步的阳光终会穿透战争、贫穷、落后的阴霾……“青山遮不住，毕竟东流去。”中国，始终为和平而来!

In the final section, the article makes the case that “commemoration is about not forgetting the past and forging ahead into the future.. Remembrance requires promoting the spirit and continuing the struggle.” 纪念，是为了不忘本来，开辟未来。缅怀，更要弘扬精神，接续奋斗.

Also on the front page today is a Ren Ping article talking about how the Party’s innovative theory can be internalised to provide inexhaustible nourishment. ​党的创新理论如何内化为取之不竭的营养.

Note: This is an interesting piece in that it offers advice to Party cadres and perhaps China watchers too. It’s also fascinating how urban development and governance is a deeply ideological issue today. The argument in the piece is essentially that China is fundamentally on a different path of modernity in comparison to the West, and that this path is not just unique but also an original breakthrough in Marxist urban theory.

“The Party's innovative theories are ‘the “nourishment” for transforming the subjective world.” Following General Secretary Xi Jinping’s latest important speech, Party members and cadres can promptly follow up, learn and grasp the essence and key points contained therein, and internalise and transform them into ‘nourishment’ for their own transformation of their subjective worlds. There are many practical methods. Recently, a leading cadre in charge of urban affairs, through effective use of Party newspapers, promptly and comprehensively grasped the spirit of the Central Urban Work Conference, internalising the Party’s innovative theories as inexhaustible nourishment. This cadre’s approach to studying and applying Party newspapers provides us with a methodological perspective for deeply understanding the spirit of the General Secretary’s important speech.” 党的创新理论是“改造主观世界的‘营养’”。习近平总书记的最新重要讲话发表后，党员干部如何及时跟进学习领会蕴含其中的精髓要义，内化转化为自己改造主观世界的“营养”，实践中有许多方法。最近，一位负责城市工作的领导干部，结合用好党报，及时全面深入把握中央城市工作会议精神，把党的创新理论内化为取之不竭的营养。这位领导干部学党报、用党报的做法，为我们提供了一个学深悟透总书记重要讲话精神的方法论视角.

The article then explains:

“Reading Party newspapers and using Party newspapers is a fine tradition of the Party, and also an important learning method. From conference press releases, grasp the main themes and context; from the ‘micro-observations’ of conference reports, grasp new concepts and approaches for urban development; from the commentary articles published in successive editions, deeply comprehend the General Secretary's important speeches and the spirit of the conference; from the theoretical articles of experts and scholars, further deeply grasp the historical logic, theoretical logic, and practical logic of Xi Jinping’s theory of modernised people’s cities…Through continuous digestion and absorption, deepening understanding from different dimensions, one can form an increasingly clear mind map. From the perspective of concepts, the General Secretary creatively proposed the concept of people’s cities, clarifying the value orientation of urban development. Empowering people’s cities with ‘modernisation’ is a further enrichment of the people’s city concept. From the perspective of practice, it is precisely because of consistently practicing the people’s city concept that China’s urban development has achieved historic accomplishments, providing strong support and a powerful engine for advancing Chinese-style modernisation. From the perspective of theory, this is a further deepening of the understanding of urban development patterns, achieving an original breakthrough in Marxist urban theory in the new era.” 学党报、用党报是党的优良传统，也是重要的学习方法。从会议消息通稿中，把握主旨脉络；从会议报道“微观察”中，把握做好城市工作的新理念和新方法；从连续刊出的评论员文章中，往深里领悟总书记重要讲话和会议精神；从专家学者理论文章中，进一步深入把握习近平总书记现代化人民城市理论的历史逻辑、理论逻辑、实践逻辑……通过持续消化吸收，从不同维度深化理解，就能形成一张不断清晰的思维导图——从理念上看。总书记创造性提出了人民城市理念，明确了城市发展的价值旨归。以“现代化”赋能人民城市，是对人民城市理念的进一步丰富。从实践上看。正是因为始终践行人民城市理念，我国城市发展取得历史性成就，为推进中国式现代化提供有力支撑和强大引擎。从理论上看。这是对城市发展规律认识的进一步深化，实现了马克思主义城市理论在新时代的原创性突破.

“Thinking further: how to better grasp the strategic considerations of proposing the goal of building modernised people’s cities for the first time?

• Having a historical perspective: The West underwent industrialisation over hundreds of years, while China took only a few decades. The same is true for urbanisation. New situations will inevitably arise and new problems must be addressed. We must plan ahead and take the initiative.

• Having a sense of direction: Cities are the primary battlefields for scientific and technological innovation and industrial development. It is necessary to accelerate the development of new high-quality productive forces...promoting Chinese-style modernisation has placed new demands on urban development. This has ‘shifted from a period of rapid growth to a period of stable development’ and ‘from a phase of large-scale incremental expansion to a phase focused on improving the quality and efficiency of existing cities’. These ‘two shifts’ reflect significant assessments about the new historical orientation of China’s urban development.

• Having a people-centered approach: The goal requirements of being ‘innovative, livable, beautiful, resilient, civilised, and smart’ grasp the historic changes in the principal contradiction of our society and conform to people’s new expectations for cities. In doing any work, we cannot ignore the feelings of the masses; what has been promised must be delivered.

The more deeply one learns, the more one can appreciate the General Secretary’s profound feelings for the people, and the more one can understand that the Party’s innovative theories are theories of practice.” 进一步思考，如何更好把握首次提出建设现代化人民城市目标的战略考量？历史感。工业化进程，西方走了几百年，而我们只用了几十年。城镇化进程也是这样，必然有一些新情况要应对，出现一些新问题要解决。必须前瞻性谋划，下好先手棋。方位感。城市是科技创新、产业发展主阵地，要加快发展新质生产力……推进中国式现代化，对城市发展提出了新的要求。“从快速增长期转向稳定发展期”“从大规模增量扩张阶段转向存量提质增效为主的阶段”，“两个转向”是对我国城市发展历史新方位作出的重大判断。以人民为中心。“创新、宜居、美丽、韧性、文明、智慧”的目标要求，把握我国社会主要矛盾的历史性变化，顺应了人民对城市的新期待。做任何工作，不能忽视群众的感受，承诺了的就要兑现。学得越深入，越能感悟到总书记深厚的人民情怀，越能领悟到党的创新理论是实践的理论.

The second section says:

“Comprehensive and systematic, grasping the essence and key points. The Party’s innovative theory is a scientific system, logically rigorous, and an organically unified whole. Only by recognising and grasping the new concepts of a certain field or the new requirements of a certain aspect from the perspective of the entire scientific system can one avoid fragmentation and one-sidedness. Promoting high-quality urban development requires a comprehensive and systematic understanding of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and deepening study of works such as ‘Excerpts from Xi Jinping’s Discourses on Urban Work’... 全面系统，弄通精髓要义。党的创新理论是一个科学系统、逻辑严密、有机统一的整体。从整个科学体系来认识和把握某一领域的新理念、某一方面的新要求，才能避免碎片化、片面性。推动城市高质量发展，尤其需要全面系统领会习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想，深化对《习近平关于城市工作论述摘编》等著作的学习.

“Persist in systematic thinking and focus on a coordinated approach. In the past, ‘one beautiful thing concealed a hundred flaws’, but now, ‘one flaw conceals a hundred beautiful things’. Cities are living organisms, and no aspect—production, life, ecology, culture, safety, and so on—can be neglected. A vibrant and innovative city, a comfortable and convenient livable city, a green and low-carbon beautiful city—the ‘Six Constructions’ address all aspects of public concern, bearing on the city’s future and its well-being, and must be well coordinated. Urban work is a systematic project. Only by applying the systems concept can one creatively implement the requirements of ‘vigorously promoting optimisation of urban structure, transformation of driving forces, improvement of quality, green transformation, continuation of cultural lifeblood, enhanced effectiveness of governance, and firmly holding the bottom line of urban security.’” 坚持系统观念，注重统筹方法。过去“一俊遮百丑”，现在“一丑掩百俊”。城市是有机生命体，生产、生活、生态、文化、安全等等，哪一方面都不能疏忽。富有活力的创新城市、舒适便利的宜居城市、绿色低碳的美丽城市……“六个建设”指向百姓关切的方方面面，关系城市未来，关系人民福祉，必须统筹协调好。城市工作是一个系统工程。运用系统观念，才能创造性落实“大力推动城市结构优化、动能转换、品质提升、绿色转型、文脉赓续、治理增效，牢牢守住城市安全底线”的要求.

Strengthen overall awareness and promote integrated development. In the process of modernisation, the proportion of cities has increased, while that of rural areas has decreased. How should we grasp the relationship between urban and rural areas? Social atomisation and ‘big city diseases’, such as urban slums, are common problems encountered in the development of Western cities. We cannot have ‘thriving cities on one side and declining rural areas on the other’. ‘From the outset, we didn't advocate urbanization of the kind of becoming big cities (城市化), but rather city-country integration/development of towns (城镇化), with the goal of promoting urban-rural integration.’ This is the preservation of the core values ​​and innovations of Chinese-style modernisation. ‘Comprehensively advancing new urbanisation and comprehensive rural revitalisation, and promoting integrated urban-rural development’ offers a Chinese solution to addressing common urban problems in the modernisation process and provides inspiration and reference for jointly pursuing the prosperity and development of cities and rural areas around the world. This further explains why General Secretary Xi Jinping’s theory of modernized people’s cities is an original theoretical achievement based on the Marxist critique of Western urban development and integrated with China’s development practices. Only by adopting the right ideological approach can we understand problems from a high perspective, analyse them in depth, and carry out our work with precision. 增强全局意识，促进融合发展。现代化进程中，城的比重上升，乡的比重下降。如何把握城与乡的关系？社会原子化等困境、城市贫民窟等“大城市病”，这是西方城市发展过程中出现的普遍问题。不能“一边是繁荣的城市、一边是凋敝的农村”，“我们一开始就没有提城市化，而是提城镇化，目的就是促进城乡融合”……这是中国式现代化的守正创新。“统筹推进新型城镇化和乡村全面振兴，促进城乡融合发展”，为破解现代化进程中城市普遍问题提供了中国方案，为共谋全球城市和乡村繁荣发展提供了启示和借鉴。由此更能理解，为什么习近平总书记现代化人民城市理论是在继承马克思主义对西方城市发展批判的理论基础上，结合中国发展实践形成的原创性理论成果。把思想方法搞对头，才能做到认识问题站得高，分析问题看得深，开展工作把得准.

The piece ends by asking everyone to link theory to practice.

Page 2: There’s a report on Chen Wenqing visiting Jilin.

During a symposium with provincial-level political and legal authorities, Chen Wenqing emphasised the importance of maintaining security and stability, with Jilin’s security and stability contributing to national security and stability. Currently, we must coordinate the entire nation as one chess game, concentrate our efforts on doing well the security and stability maintenance work for the activities commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese people's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, and the SCO summit. It is necessary to address the people’s demands in accordance with the law and policies, effectively integrating rights protection with maintaining stability, and effectively preventing and resolving major risks related to stability. It is necessary to crack down on prominent crimes and illegal activities in accordance with the law, strengthen overall public security prevention and control, and dynamically eliminate potential safety hazards. It is necessary to improve the mechanism for joint border management by the Party, government, military, police, and the public, enhance the development and prosperity of border areas, stabilize and consolidate border areas, and firmly safeguard border security. 在省级政法机关座谈时，陈文清强调，要着力维护安全稳定，以吉林一域之安全稳定为全国安全稳定作出贡献，当前要全国一盘棋，集中精力做好纪念中国人民抗日战争暨世界反法西斯战争胜利80周年活动和上合组织峰会安保维稳工作。要依法按政策解决好群众的利益诉求，切实把维权和维稳有机统一起来，有效防范化解重大涉稳风险。要依法打击突出违法犯罪，强化社会治安整体防控，动态消除安全隐患。要完善党政军警民合力治边机制，提升兴边富民、稳边固边水平，牢牢守护边境安全.

During his inspection of the Longtan District Court and the Chuanying District Procuratorate in Jilin City, Chen Wenqing emphasised that it is necessary to put effort into advancing the construction of rule of law, unwaveringly upholding Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law as the command, comprehensively advancing scientific legislation, strict law enforcement, impartial judiciary, and universal law observance; unwaveringly persist in the Party’s leadership, firmly grasp the distinctive advantages of the system where the Party manages political and legal work, ensuring that political and legal units each perform their duties, cooperate with each other, and mutually supervise each other under the Party’s leadership; unwaveringly persist with the people-centered approach, comprehensively grasp the situation of people’s acceptance of verdicts and cessation of complaints, taking the standard of ‘case closed, matter resolved, people reconciled’, striving to let the people feel fairness and justice in every judicial case. 在吉林市龙潭区法院、船营区检察院调研时，陈文清强调，要着力推进法治建设，毫不动摇坚持以习近平法治思想为统领，全面推进科学立法、严格执法、公正司法、全民守法；毫不动摇坚持党的领导，牢牢把握党管政法工作制度的显著优势，做到政法单位在党的领导下各司其职、相互配合、相互制约；毫不动摇坚持以人民为中心，全口径掌握人民群众服判息诉情况，以案结事了人和为标准，努力让人民群众在每一个司法案件中感受到公平正义.

Later the piece quotes Chen’s remarks about comprehensive governance centers. He said that these are “a concrete practice of the socialist rule of law path with Chinese characteristics, a concrete embodiment of the organic unity of upholding the Party’s leadership, the people being masters of the country, and governing the country according to law, and a grassroots platform for dissolving social contradictions and disputes. It is necessary to deepen the standardised construction of comprehensive governance centers, so that every demand of the people has someone handle it according to law, and so that ‘problems can be solved by going to the comprehensive governance center’ becomes the popular belief.” 他指出，综治中心是中国特色社会主义法治道路的具体实践，是坚持党的领导、人民当家作主、依法治国有机统一的具体体现，是化解社会矛盾纠纷的基层平台。要深化综治中心规范化建设，让人民群众的每一项诉求都有人依法办，让“到综治中心能解决问题”成为群众口碑.

Page 3: There’s a report about an international seminar on counterterrorism being held in Urumqi, Xinjiang. Global Times reports that officials and scholars from more than 20 countries, including the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt, Russia and the African Union, attended the event. The report adds:

“During the opening ceremony, Xu Guixiang, Secretary of the Leading Party Members Group of the Xinjiang Foreign Affairs Office, said the seminar is both timely and important. He noted that Xinjiang is China’s frontline in the fight against terrorism and a vital shield for regional security, making it particularly significant to host the event there. In the past, Xinjiang was deeply affected by the ‘three forces’ of terrorism, separatism and extremism. Frequent violent and terrorist incidents brought great suffering to people of all ethnic groups and severely impacted the region's economic development and social stability, said Xu. In the face of these threats, Xinjiang took decisive measures to carry out counterterrorism and deradicalisation efforts in accordance with the law, achieving remarkable results and valuable experience. It is hoped that this seminar will further build consensus, enhance capabilities and deepen cooperation in counterterrorism, thereby contributing more effectively to safeguarding world peace and stability, said Xu.”

Page 6: There’s a report with remarks from Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office. The English report says that “people from all walks of life, including Taiwan compatriots, will be invited to observe China’s massive V-Day military parade, scheduled for Sept. 3 in Tiananmen Square in Beijing.”

The report adds that Zhu said:

“This year 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. Zhu said that the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression is a magnificent epic composed by the entire Chinese nation, with all Chinese people, including compatriots in Taiwan, making enormous sacrifices and great contributions. She called on people on both sides of the Strait to remember history, honor the martyrs, promote the great spirit of patriotism, and jointly advance the cause of national reunification, creating a bright future for national rejuvenation.”

In the Chinese language report, Zhu said this:

“Zhu Fenglian, when answering relevant questions, also pointed out that from 1931 to 1945, the Chinese people, after going through a full 14 years of arduous and extraordinary heroic struggle, achieved the great victory of the War of Resistance Against Japan, and enabled the treasured island of Taiwan, which had suffered Japanese imperialist occupation for as long as 50 years, to return to the embrace of the motherland. Taiwan’s recovery and return to the motherland is an important outcome of the great victory of the War of Resistance, forged through the blood-soaked struggle and successive sacrifices of the entire Chinese people, including the compatriots from Taiwan, and is worthy of being jointly commemorated by compatriots on both sides of the Strait.” 朱凤莲在回答有关问题时还指出，从1931年到1945年，中国人民经过长达14年艰苦卓绝的英勇斗争，取得抗日战争的伟大胜利，并使遭受日本帝国主义侵占长达50年的宝岛台湾回到祖国怀抱。台湾光复回归祖国，是包括台湾同胞在内的全体中国人民前赴后继、浴血奋战铸就的伟大抗战胜利的重要成果，值得两岸同胞共同纪念. (Note: This is smart posturing, right? It shapes a one-China principle narrative, while also making the DPP seem like it is acting out of spite by not participating in the commemoration. In fact, here’s a report from CGTN on Zhu attacking the DPP.)

“The Chinese mainland on Wednesday accused Taiwan region’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities of obstructing Taiwan compatriots from attending upcoming grand gathering in Beijing marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said the DPP’s actions were ‘a contemptible betrayal of history and the nation’. She stressed that the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression was a collective struggle of the entire Chinese nation, with people in Taiwan making ‘great sacrifices and important contributions.’ She said compatriots from both sides of the Taiwan Straits should jointly commemorate the event, honor the fallen, and draw strength from history to advance national reunification and rejuvenation. The Chinese mainland is scheduled to hold the grand gathering, which will include a military parade, on September 3 at Tiananmen Square in Beijing. Zhu said the Chinese mainland will invite representatives from across society to attend, including Taiwan compatriots. The DPP authorities recently said public servants would be barred from traveling to the Chinese mainland for the grand gathering, and alerted Taiwan compatriots not to attend it, warning that any ‘cooperation with the mainland’ could lead to penalties. Several applications seeking to attend have already been rejected. Zhu accused the DPP of deliberately distorting history and intimidating Taiwan compatriots, calling such moves ‘despicable and disgraceful’.”

Page 12: There’s an article by Wang Yingjin, Director of the Research Center for Cross-Strait Relations at Renmin University of China.

Wang makes many points. In the first section, he argues that the recall campaign failed because:

• It was “not motivated by the issue of incompetence among KMT representatives, but rather an attempt to reverse DPP’s disadvantage in the legislative system through a ‘recall plus by-election’ campaign.” “The recall campaign spanned several counties and cities, involving multiple constituencies, indiscriminately targeting KMT representatives. This transformed a system originally designed to target individual public officials into a tool for partisan struggle.” The DPP “disregarded public needs” and used “vast public resources to pursue this ‘mass recall’ campaign for its own selfish ends, clearly exposing its inherent tendency to prioritise party interests over those of the Taiwanese people.” Finally, it failed because the campaign incited partisan antagonism and exacerbated social divisions, further damaging Taiwan’s image as a democracy. Wang argues that the failure of the mass recall in Taiwan “is the inevitable result of the DPP’s disregard for the original intention of the system and its violation of the spirit of democracy.”

其一，民进党策动罢免并非因为国民党籍民意代表存在不称职情形，而是意图通过“罢免+补选”来扭转其在民意机构中的席位劣势。新一届国民党籍民意代表刚就任不久，民进党便酝酿推动罢免，以及之后赖清德提出所谓的“清除杂质”，便是这一意图的直接佐证。其二，罢免横跨多县市、涉及多选区，对国民党籍民意代表群体实施无差别打击，已将原本针对个别公职人员的制度设计异化为政党斗争的工具。其三，在台湾经济低迷、民生压力加剧之际，民进党漠视民生需求，仍为一己之私执意耗费巨额公共资源推动“大罢免”，其将政党私利凌驾于台湾民众利益之上的本质暴露无遗。其四，“大罢免”貌似民主，实为民粹。民进党在投票动员过程中煽动政党对立，加剧社会撕裂，令本已备受诟病的台湾民主形象更加褪色。不难看出，两轮“大罢免”接连惨败是民进党罔顾制度初衷、违背民主精神的必然结果.

Note: The second part of the article carries a particularly concerning narrative from my perspective. It says that the DPP has unleashed “green terror” and its actions have led to public satisfaction levels falling. Let me offer some excerpts here because the language is incredibly harsh. And there are some parallels with the Russian criticism of Ukrainian political leaders as being Nazi-like. This is not a coincidence. The Nazification argument was central to Russian discourse prior to its invasion of Ukraine, and is still a key part of Moscow’s argument that “root causes” must be addressed for a deal to end the conflict. The use of similar language by an analyst in this paper represents a significant shift in signalling. I have come across this argument on platforms like Sina, Guancha and even China Daily. The People’s Daily has in the past carried pieces and comments very harshly criticising DPP’s “green terror”. The DPP has been accused of 法西斯化 (fascistization) and carrying out cultural de-sinicisation, etc. But I have not come across the Nazification comparison in the past in the paper. I am happy to be corrected if I have missed this earlier. It’s also pertinent that that this is coming at a moment when China will mark the anniversary of WWII with a parade in Beijing, arguing that it is truly supporting and defending the post-war order.

“Since Lai Ching-te took office, the DPP authorities have manufactured ‘green terror’ on the island, even attempting to restore the so-called ‘military trial system’, seriously undermining Taiwan region’s democratic rule of law and human rights protection systems. The ‘Black Bear Units’黑熊部队 and ‘Blue Bird’ 青鸟 groups they condone are actively operating throughout the island and maliciously causing disturbances, exposing the dangerous tendency of ‘Taiwan independence’ forces becoming increasingly Nazi-like (暴露“台独”势力日趋纳粹化的危险倾向). In addition, the island’s people, especially the younger generation, have long faced livelihood difficulties such as soaring housing prices, stagnant wages, and unstable employment, leading to boiling resentment. However, the DPP authorities have neither the will nor the ability to respond. Instead, they have frequently used judicial and administrative means to suppress opposition forces. Even in some judicial cases lacking clear supporting evidence, they have still adopted ‘raiding homes and exterminating families’ style persecution against opposition party figures, thereby triggering sharp criticism from the outside regarding ‘selective justice’ and ‘instrumentalised justice’. 赖清德就任以来，民进党当局在岛内制造“绿色恐怖”，甚至企图恢复所谓“军事审判制度”，严重破坏台湾地区的民主法治与人权保障制度，其纵容的“黑熊部队”和“青鸟”团体在岛内四处活动、恶意闹场，暴露“台独”势力日趋纳粹化的危险倾向。加之，岛内民众尤其青年世代长期面对房价高涨、薪资停滞、就业不稳等民生困境，怨声沸腾，民进党当局却无心也无力应对，反而频繁借助司法与行政手段打压在野势力，在部分司法案件缺乏明确罪证支持的情况下，依旧对在野党人士采取“抄家灭门”式追杀，由此引发外界对“选择性司法”与“工具化司法”的尖锐批评.

The DPP authorities’ political persecution makes no distinction between internal and external targets. They not only target dissidents within the DPP, but also suppress and expel mainland spouses and island entertainers who have expressed anti-’Taiwan independence’ positions. Such kinds of conduct cause every person in Taiwan society to feel a sense of danger. Lai Ching-te also attempted to promote a ‘mass recall’ through issuing the so-called ‘Ten Talks on Unity’, but the results were full of errors and omissions. Not only did it not achieve its goal, but instead it was spurned by the people. At present, public opinion on the island shows that both satisfaction with and support for his governance have seriously declined. The polling released by TVBS on August 11 shows that the satisfaction of Taiwan’s people with Lai Ching-te is only 28%, while dissatisfaction is as high as 55%. 民进党当局的政治迫害行动不分内外，不仅在民进党内排斥异己，也打压驱逐那些曾表达反“台独”立场的陆配、岛内艺人。类似种种行径，使台湾社会人人自危。赖清德还企图通过发表所谓“团结十讲”助推“大罢免”，结果错漏百出，不仅没有达到目的，反而遭到民众唾弃。目前岛内民意对其施政满意度及支持度均严重下降，TVBS在8月11日公布的民调显示，台湾民众对赖清德的满意度仅28%，不满意度却高达55%。台湾“美丽岛电子报”董事长吴子嘉于8月16日更判断其支持度有进一步下跌的趋势.

In the third section, Wang argues that the failure of the recall indicates that Lai’ “‘resist China, protect Taiwan’ line has obviously already failed.” 此罢免投票结果充分表明，赖清德的“抗中保台”路线显然已经失灵.

Finally, Wang writes that Lai’s has been following a policy of “blindly ‘kowtowing to the US and selling out Taiwan’” and that this policy “endangers Taiwan’s security.” In this context, he mentions the handling of TSMC and its promised investments in the US. He also criticises what he says are “secretive” negotiations on tariffs with the US. On TSMC, the narrative is worth reading:

“TSMC is gradually becoming ‘USMC’, seriously impacting Taiwan’s chip industry development. First, the delay of TSMC’s investment plans on the island will weaken Taiwan’s capacity for continued expansion in the semiconductor field, which is not conducive to maintaining technological and industrial advantages. Second, the transfer of some advanced technologies will weaken Taiwan’s concentrated advantages in the chip manufacturing field, possibly gradually losing the strategic autonomy supported by technological monopoly. Third, as the amount of investment in the US climbs, Taiwan, in its overall economic structure, is showing a trend of deepening degree of dependence on the United States, with autonomy and risk resistance capacity greatly reduced. The DPP authorities’ unprincipled compromise and concessions to the US have made Taiwan’s core industries subject to US control and accelerated hollowing out, very likely leading to a situation where Taiwan is forced to serve US strategic needs rather than local economic interests in key industrial sectors.” 台积电正逐渐变成“美积电”，严重冲击台湾芯片产业发展。一是台积电在岛内投资计划的延宕会削弱台湾在半导体领域的持续扩张能力，不利于维持技术与产业优势。二是部分先进技术的转移会削弱台湾在芯片制造领域的集中优势，可能逐步丧失以技术垄断支撑的战略自主性。三是随着对美投资额的攀升，台湾在整体经济结构上呈现出对美依赖程度加深的趋势，自主性与抗风险能力大幅降低。民进党当局对美国无原则地妥协和退让，使台湾核心产业受制于美国并加速空心化，极可能导致出现台湾在关键产业领域被迫服从美国战略需要而非本土经济利益的情形.