Chinese soldiers rehearses at a camp ahead of the Sept. 3 military parade to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Japan’s World War II surrender, in Beijing on Aug. 20, 2025. “China’s experience of World War II was devastating. From 1895 until the end of World War II, Taiwan was a Japanese colony and was therefore already under Japan’s control at the time of World War II. “To make sure that aggressors have no opportunity to advance their ambitions.”Taiwan’s President Lai reframes World War II as a battle of democracy versus authoritarianism. It also reframes and challenges Beijing’s narrative and makes the case that the real lesson of World War II is one about democracy vs. autocracy, said Mitter.