Cross-Strait youths pay tribute to Taiwan defenders in Fuzhou

Descendants of historical figures and young people from both sides of the Taiwan Strait gathered on Wednesday in Fuzhou, Fujian province, to retrace China's modern maritime defense history and pay tribute to soldiers who died defending Taiwan more than a century ago.

The participants laid flowers and bowed at the Fujian Garrison Taiwan Soldiers Cemetery Group in Mawei district, Fuzhou. The memorial site contains the remains of 135 Fuzhou soldiers who died defending Taiwan during the 1874 Japanese invasion of the island, also known as the Mudan Incident. Their families and compatriots later relocated the remains to Fuzhou for reburial.

Weng Yu-ching, a descendant of Shen Baozhen (1820-1879), a pioneer of China's modern naval development who led defense forces during the 1874 crisis, said her ancestor took command at a critical moment, led troops to Taiwan and implemented reforms that laid the foundation for the island's development.

She said the soldiers' sacrifices must never be forgotten and urged younger generations to understand this chapter of history and shoulder their responsibilities to the nation.

Cheng Tao-tsung, a descendant of a pioneer of the Foochow Arsenal and vice-chairman of the Anping Cultural and Educational Foundation in Taiwan, offered Jinmen sorghum liquor to the fallen soldiers.

"This cemetery stands as the most vivid physical testimony to our shared cross-Strait history. Young people must visit this place in person," he said.

The visit was a key event marking the 160th anniversary of the founding of the Foochow Arsenal. As China's first modern naval shipyard and naval industrial base, the arsenal produced the country's first modern warships for coastal defense and trained many of the engineers who later helped build Taiwan's early infrastructure, serving as an enduring historical and maritime link across the Taiwan Strait.

Lu Yan contributed to this story.