Arab News
Date: 24 October 2015
By: REUTERS

BEIJING: Chinese people have a “sacred mission” to ensure Taiwan is

Taiwan military honor guard march during the National Day celebrations in Taipei, Taiwan, in this Oct. 10, 2015 photo. (AP)

always considered part of China, a top Chinese leader said on Friday ahead of the 70th anniversary of Japan giving up control of Taiwan at the end of World War Two.

Taiwan was a Japanese colony from 1895-1945 and the then-Nationalist government of China took over rule of the island after Japan lost the war. Japan had gained control of the island from imperial China.

But the Nationalists had to flee to Taiwan in 1949 after losing a civil war with the Communists, who to this day insist the island is an integral part of China and have never renounced the use of force to bring it under Beijing’s control.     [FULL  STORY]