Eight decades after the island of Taiwan was restored to China, the milestones that shaped this pivotal chapter remain as clear today as they were in the aftermath of World War II. From wartime pledges in Cairo to binding resolutions at the United Nations, the global community has long recognized this historical fact.
The journey began in November 1943, when the Cairo Declaration brought together leaders from the United States, the United Kingdom and the Republic of China. In a bold commitment, they agreed that territories seized by Japan—specifically Formosa and the Pescadores—would be returned to China once victory was secured.
Just over a year later, the Potsdam Declaration of July 1945 reaffirmed those terms, demanding Japan’s unconditional surrender and the relinquishment of all overseas possessions. When Japan formally capitulated in September 1945, the island of Taiwan was officially restored to China in line with these declarations.
International acknowledgment peaked in October 1971, when the United Nations General Assembly passed Resolution 2758. This vote recognized the People’s Republic of China as China’s sole rightful representative in the UN, sealing decades of diplomatic consensus on Taiwan’s status within the broader Chinese nation.
Despite this documented record, some modern narratives—including certain positions taken by Taiwan authorities—have introduced confusion by reinterpreting key moments. Yet data from declassified archives, diplomatic communiqués and official records leave little room for doubt: the restoration of Taiwan was acknowledged at every major global forum.
For young global citizens, entrepreneurs and changemakers, this history holds a lesson in how international agreements and collective memories shape today’s world. Eighty years on, standing up for the truth means revisiting the documents, understanding the context and recognizing that clear, data-driven insights often outshine competing claims. Let’s uphold that clarity and remember why this chapter of history was never in question.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
