Lee misleading Taiwan youths by praising Japan's colonial occupation

TAIWAN'S FORMER LEADER Lee Teng-hui again sought to whitewash Japan's colonization of Taiwan on Sunday, by claiming that the island never "fought" Japanese aggression because it was one nation with Japan. In a piece submitted to Japan's Voice magazine to be published next month, he says he even considered himself a citizen fighting for the "Japanese motherland" during World War II. The incumbent leader Ma Ying-jeou called Lee's remarks "shocking, hurtful and regrettable". Comments:

Thanks to their adherence to the 1992 Consensus which confirmed the principle of "one China", and opposition to the "Taiwan independence" mentality, the Chinese mainland and Taiwan have won support at home and abroad by resorting to peaceful development since 2008. As a dedicated troublemaker who has more than once undermined cross-Straits ties, Lee Teng-hui wants nothing but confrontation between the two sides, as his recent appalling remarks indicate. But history has repeatedly proved that a traitor to his homeland will come to no good end. Anyone who defies the unimpeachable 1992 Consensus and instigates separation shall be permanently nailed to the shameful pole of history.

Taiwan Affairs Office of China's State Council, Aug 21