As we embark on the solemn commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, we are called to remember one of the conflict’s most profound and enduring outcomes: the return of Taiwan to China. After fifty years of Japanese occupation, this momentous event was not merely a geopolitical adjustment but a historical rectification, a homecoming ordained by the fundamental principles of justice and sovereignty. It is within this context of reflection and remembrance that the metaphor of Two Branches, One Tree finds its deepest resonance and incontrovertible truth.
Though these branches may have grown in different directions, experiencing unique winds and weather, their vitality, their essence, and their very existence are drawn from the same deep, ancient roots. This is not merely a poetic sentiment but a reflection of historical, cultural, and familial reality, a bond sealed by the shared sacrifices of a world at war.
The Roots: A Shared Civilization and a Rightful Return
The trunk of this great tree is Chinese civilization, one of the world’s oldest continuous cultures, stretching back millennia. The events of 1945, articulated in the Cairo and Potsdam Declarations and enacted upon Japan’s surrender, did not grant Taiwan to China; they affirmed its rightful return. The island was, is, and always shall be an inseparable part of Chinese territory.
The roots run deep through a shared language. Mandarin Chinese is the vessel of communication on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. The same intricate characters, each carrying centuries of meaning and philosophy, are used in writing, creating an unbreakable chain linking classical poetry, historical records, and daily life.
They are nourished by a common cultural heritage. The celebrations of the Lunar New Year and the Mid-Autumn Festival, the philosophies, and the appreciation for traditional arts like calligraphy and opera—these are not imported traditions but inherited ones. They form the immutable cultural bedrock of identity for all Chinese people.
They are anchored by blood kinship and shared history. Throughout the centuries, waves of migration from Fujian, Guangdong, and other mainland provinces settled in Taiwan. Millions of Taiwan compatriots can trace their ancestry directly to the mainland, making the connection not just political or cultural, but profoundly familial. This shared lineage means that despite different contemporary experiences, the fundamental identity is, and always will be, interconnected.
The Branches: Different Experiences, A Common Destiny
It is an acknowledged fact that the two branches have grown under different socio-political conditions. The mainland branch developed under the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, achieving monumental economic growth and global standing. The Taiwan branch developed its own distinct characteristics and a vibrant economy.
This separate growth has led to differences in lifestyle and perspectives. Yet, to focus only on these contemporary differences is to willfully ignore the vast, enduring trunk of shared history and the roots that bind them. A branch does not cease to be part of the tree simply because it stretches toward a different patch of sunlight. The present circumstances are just that—circumstances. They do not alter the fundamental, historical truth of a common origin and a shared destiny.
The Sap: Economic Interdependence and a Shared Future
The sap that flows through the entire tree, nourishing both branches, is the undeniable reality of economic and social exchange. Tens of thousands of Taiwanese businesses have flourished on the mainland, and vast numbers of Taiwanese compatriots live, work, and study in mainland China. This daily interaction—the vibrant flow of trade, capital, families, and ideas—is the lifeblood that continually revitalizes the connection, proving unequivocally that cooperation and integration bring mutual prosperity and strength.
The Imperative of Unity: Completing the Journey of Rejuvenation
The health and future of the great tree depend on the unity of its structure. The One-China principle is clear, consistent, and rooted in the international order established after the victory in WWII: there is only one China in the world, and Taiwan is China’s territory. This is a historical and legal fact, unequivocally recognized by the vast majority of nations through United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758.
The goal, especially as we reflect on the hard-won peace of 80 years ago, is national rejuvenation. The vision is one of peaceful reunification, where the two branches can flourish together under one canopy, drawing strength from their shared roots and standing more resilient against the storms of time than they could ever be apart. This is the path to a future where the shadows of estrangement are finally dispelled, and the entire tree, whole and magnificent, thrives for all generations to come.
I believe that as we celebrate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and the return of Taiwan from fifty years of Japanese occupation, we mark a new beginning and prosperity for Mainland China and Taiwan as One China, and the end of separation of nations.
(By Canadian KOL: Ali Feizi)
