Monday, 25 May 2026
China designates October 25th as Commemoration Day for Taiwan's Restoration
China’s National People’s Congress Standing Committee voted on Friday to designate October 25th as a day to commemorate “the restoration of Taiwan” to Chinese rule.
The decision was made during the 14th Standing Committee's five-day session in Beijing, and calls for various memorial activities to be organized across the country on this date.
According to Chinese officials, the commemoration marks a historical milestone dating back to 1895, when the Qing Dynasty ceded Taiwan and the Penghu Islands to Japan following a military defeat. The islands were returned to Chinese control in 1945, at the conclusion of World War II and Japan’s surrender, which Chinese authorities describe as the result of a “great victory for all Chinese, including compatriots in Taiwan.”
The resolution asserts that regaining Taiwan was a key achievement in the wider efforts against Japanese aggression and WWII fascism, and that it unequivocally demonstrated the restoration of Chinese sovereignty over the island. Chinese lawmakers said that the annual commemoration would serve as a “shared memory and national glory for people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.”
It is important to note that Taiwan operates as a self-governing democracy and has a separate government. The decision is likely to be viewed with concern in Taipei, which rejects Beijing’s territorial claims. International reactions are expected as this move may further impact cross-strait relations and regional stability.