Taiwan disputes China's WWII alliance claim after Xi-Trump summit

Taiwan's government is pushing back against China's portrayal of its role in World War II, following remarks made by Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump during a recent summit. The two leaders highlighted the historical alliance between the US and China during the war, with Trump specifically referencing the Flying Tigers, American pilots who volunteered to fight in China.

During a state dinner, Trump recalled how "Brave American pilots volunteered to come to China and fight for the very survival of the legendary country and that legendary Flying Tigers group." Xi echoed this sentiment, stating that "the Chinese people have never forgotten that part of history, nor have the American people."

However, Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council Deputy Minister Shen Yu-chung stated that the People's Republic of China (PRC) did not exist during World War II, and therefore had no standing to discuss the US-China alliance from that period. Shen emphasized that it was the Republic of China (ROC) that was a steadfast ally of the US. He also noted that then-Chinese Communist Party leader Mao Zedong had described the party's role during the war as primarily focused on developing its forces rather than fighting the Japanese.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Chen Ming-chi suggested that Trump's references to the Flying Tigers were intended to emphasize that the US has always helped China. He accused Beijing of "cherry-picking from history" and distorting events, warning that China could use this narrative to claim Washington recognizes the PRC's role in resisting Japanese militarism. Taiwan aims to ensure the US understands the ROC's historical alliance.