Efforts made to bring two sides of one family back together

Some 75 years ago, driven by a profound yearning for his motherland, Yang Yizhou's father made a resolute decision to leave Taiwan for the mainland, a choice that left a lasting impact on his family and inspired Yang to dedicate himself to promoting cross-Strait reunification from a young age.

As vice-chairman of the All-China Federation of Taiwan Compatriots, Yang possesses a deep understanding of the pain caused by the division between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait. This empathy has enabled him to become a compassionate listener to the voices of Taiwan compatriots and a bridge between them.

Born in Taipei in 1928, Yang's father enrolled in a university in Macao in 1949. During his first year at university in 1950, he joined a youth reading group in Macao, where he learned about the endeavors of the Communist Party of China. That same year, he courageously abandoned his studies and, alongside another Taiwan classmate, journeyed to the mainland to participate in socialist construction.

Proficient in Japanese due to his education from a young age, Yang's father served as a translator during the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-53) in 1950. Subsequently, in 1957, he relocated to Pinghe county in Fujian province to work as a grain statistics officer until his retirement in 1988.

Reflecting on his father's decision, Yang said, "My grandfather questioned his choice, wondering why he chose to head to the mainland when everyone else was going to Taiwan. However, my father was driven by a strong sense of justice."

Despite never having visited the mainland and witnessing only defeated Kuomintang soldiers retreating to Taiwan, the family respected his father's decision and provided financial support for his journey.

This decision had a profound impact on his life. Unaware of the enduring consequences of the Strait's separation, Yang's father was unable to contact his family in Taiwan for nearly 40 years, missing out on crucial family events and news.

In 1988, after 38 years apart, Yang's father was finally reunited with his sisters at an airport in Xiamen, where they embraced and wept. His parents and a brother had already passed away.

"I really want to contribute to the motherland, promote reunification and witness families from both sides of the Taiwan Strait reuniting," said Yang, who was born after his father married in Fujian.

In 1982, Yang represented the Taiwan province delegation at the inaugural National College Student Games in Beijing, where he garnered attention for his remarkable perseverance. Despite an unexpected foot injury, he completed a 10,000-meter race, attracting media coverage. Following the completion of his postgraduate studies at Nankai University in Tianjin, Yang pursued his dream of working on cross-Strait affairs. He joined the All-China Federation of Taiwan Compatriots in Beijing, having previously participated in its third summer camp for Taiwan compatriots in 1986 when cross-Strait exchanges were limited.

Throughout his over 30 years of service with the federation, Yang assumed the role of organizing the summer camps. The event's attendance grew from just over a hundred to a thousand annually, with a majority of participants being university students from Taiwan, particularly first-time visitors.

The annual summer camp has evolved into the largest and most enduring cross-Strait youth exchange activity on the mainland. Young students from both sides come together to organize celebrations, visit historical and cultural sites, and stay informed about the latest developments.

"Young people from both sides spend a week to 10 days together, sharing meals, accommodations and activities, fostering deep friendships," he noted. Additionally, more young individuals from Taiwan are opting to come to the mainland to work as the industries they can engage in continue to expand.

This year, the federation intends to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and the 80th anniversary of Taiwan's recovery from Japanese occupation through events such as photo exhibitions, inviting Taiwan compatriots from the island to participate.

"Taiwan residents exhibit strong patriotism. After enduring forced occupation by Japan in 1895, the people of Taiwan resisted for 50 years," Yang said. "The recovery of Taiwan symbolizes the collective efforts of compatriots from both sides, signifying that Taiwan has legally and in reality returned to the motherland, becoming an inseparable part of China."

Yang criticized the Democratic Progressive Party authorities in Taiwan for advocating the "two-state" fallacy and certain US politicians for promoting the "undetermined status of Taiwan", labeling these notions as absurd. "Reflecting on history aims to revisit the circumstances in 1945 and how international treaties at the time confirmed Taiwan's return to China, countering these fallacies," he said.

Contact the writers at zhangyi1@chinadaily.com.cn

Q & A: Why is there no comparison between the Ukraine issue and the Taiwan question?

The Taiwan question and the Ukraine issue are different in nature and are not comparable. The most fundamental difference is that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China and the Taiwan question is entirely a matter of China's domestic affairs, while the Ukraine issue is a dispute between Russia and Ukraine. It is common knowledge that the Taiwan question was caused by a civil war, and there is political confrontation between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait due to that civil war. However, China's sovereignty and territory have never been divided and cannot be divided. This is the status quo of the Taiwan question.

The one-China principle is a universally recognized norm governing international relations. Peace in the Taiwan Strait hinges on the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations, rather than the fawning on foreign forces for arms sales and military support.

SOURCE: MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS