Central Government slams DPP for silence on Taiwan's liberation anniversary

A spokeswoman for China's central government Taiwan affairs office on Friday slammed Taiwan regional authorities' silence on the 79th anniversary of Taiwan's liberation from Japanese occupation and return to the motherland.

Zhu Fenglian, spokeswoman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, denounced Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities, led by Lai Ching-te, for downplaying and denying the historical significance of this event in response to a media inquiry as Friday marks the 79th anniversary of Taiwan's restoration.

Instead of commemorating the historic event, the DPP authorities led by Lai chose to whitewash Taiwan's colonial past under Dutch and Japanese rules, Zhu noted.

Such actions are a flagrant denial of the outcomes of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, and a grave dishonor to the sacrifices of Chinese compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, Zhu said.

In July 1894, Japan launched a war of aggression against China. In the following year, the defeated Qing government was forced to cede Taiwan and the Penghu Islands to Japan.

On Dec. 1, 1943, China, the United States and the United Kingdom issued the Cairo Declaration, stating that it was the purpose of the three allies that all the territories Japan had stolen from China, such as Northeast China, Taiwan and the Penghu Islands, should be restored to China.

On July 26, 1945, the Potsdam Proclamation was signed by China, the United States and the United Kingdom, and subsequently recognized by the Soviet Union. It reiterated: "The terms of the Cairo Declaration shall be carried out."

On Oct. 25, 1945, the Chinese government announced that it was resuming the exercise of sovereignty over Taiwan. From that point forward, China had recovered Taiwan de jure and de facto through a host of documents with international legal effect, Zhu said.

She added that the Taiwan question arose out of China's past weakness and turmoil but will ultimately be resolved as China realizes national rejuvenation.

Central Government slams DPP for silence on Taiwan's liberation anniversary

Over 10,000 domestic and international buyers and exhibitors flocked to Chenghai District of Shantou City of Guangdong Province in south China on Friday for the 23rd International Toy Expo, expecting to seize more business opportunities.

Known as "the capital of toys," Chenghai District produces one third of the global plastic toys. Taking the chance of the Toy Expo, over 3,000 international buyers gathered to cooperate with local toy makers, posing to further expand Chenghai's vibrant toy industry, as contracts totaling over 12 billion yuan (about 1.7 billion U.S. dollars) have been signed.

"Overseas clients have diversified requirements for products. So, we roll out 30 to 40 new types of toys every year. Our export has reached around 300 million to 400 million yuan this year, featuring a 35 percent growth," said Xie Yipeng, president assistant of a toy company in Guangdong.

As an economic pillar of the region, Chenghai's toy industry exports to over 120 countries and regions, with total exports amounting to over 6.7 billion yuan (about 950 million U.S. dollars) from January to August this year, at a growth rate of eight percent.

For the future, Chenghai expects to enhance its reputation in toy making, positioning the Toy Expo as a landmark event for China's toy industry, said Wang Jianfeng, executive deputy head of the Chenghai Toy Association.

"(We are to) build (the Toy Expo) into a landmark event for China's toy industry, and expand the influence and prestige of Chenghai toys through this platform, so as to stimulate the vigorous development of toy industry and culture," said Wang.

Global buyers flock to Shantou toy expo