台灣民進黨政府近日對於部分退役軍官、尤其是曾參與抗日戰爭的老兵，收到中國大陸邀請出席「九三閱兵」活動一事，表達強烈反對，甚至發出警告稱，若參與相關活動，可能會面臨撤銷退休俸、行政處分等懲罰。這一舉動不僅在兩岸間引發激烈爭論，也在島內引起部分輿論與退伍軍人團體的不滿。

首先，從大陸的角度來看，「九三閱兵」是為紀念中國抗日戰爭暨世界反法西斯戰爭勝利的歷史節點，特別強調全民族共同抗戰的歷史敘事。因此邀請曾參與抗戰的國民黨老兵出席觀禮，意在展現兩岸同屬中華民族、曾經並肩對抗外敵的歷史共識，也是中共長期推動「民族大義」與「兩岸一家親」敘事的一環。

而台灣民進黨政府之所以嚴厲反對退役軍官前往參與，背後涉及數個深層的政治與意識形態因素。首先是 兩岸敵對立場。民進黨自上台以來，對中共保持高度戒心與對抗姿態，強調台灣主體性與防衛自主，視中共對台統戰作為高度威脅。在這樣的背景下，任何形式的官方或半官方接觸，都可能被視為被「利用」作為統戰宣傳的一環，甚至被形塑為「背叛台灣」。

其次是民進黨政府長期塑造的「抗中保台」形象，與大陸進行歷史敘事上的拔河。中共主張「全民抗戰」論，而民進黨政府則逐步強調台灣本土抗戰脈絡，推崇「台籍兵參與南洋戰場」等歷史片段，試圖淡化國民黨在抗戰中的主導角色。在此語境下，國民黨老兵赴陸參加閱兵典禮，對民進黨來說，不僅是對中共的歷史立場認可，也間接削弱其建構的台灣本土歷史正統性。

再者，民進黨當局也擔心 國安與退役軍人紀律問題。部分參與閱兵的退役軍官曾擔任高階軍職，掌握過機密或與現役系統有密切聯繫。雖然這些人已卸任多年，但仍被視為敏感人士，一旦赴陸，便可能涉及機密洩露風險或被政治利用。民進黨政府為了防範這類事件，往往會透過《兩岸人民關係條例》等法規進行約束，甚至施加懲戒威脅。

中國大陸國防部發言人張曉剛則對此表示強烈不滿。他在例行記者會中嚴詞批評民進黨當局的行徑是「威脅恐嚇抗戰老兵」，更以「背叛民族、背叛歷史、踐踏良知」等詞形容這種做法。他認為，抗日戰爭是全體中華民族共同的記憶，應該被尊重與紀念，而不應被當作政治工具。他此番發言，無疑是將民進黨政府的警告視為對歷史正義的否定與對退役老兵尊嚴的踐踏。

總體而言，此事件的爭議並不單單是老兵是否能赴陸觀禮的問題，而是兩岸在歷史記憶、政治認同與國族敘事上的深層衝突。對北京而言，邀請老兵象徵民族團結與歷史和解；而對台北尤其是民進黨來說，這是統戰行為與對主權尊嚴的挑戰。夾在中間的老兵們，成為兩岸政治對峙下的尷尬象徵，而他們當年為國而戰的歷史貢獻，反倒在現今的意識形態對抗中，被迫捲入新的政治風暴之中。

At a recent press conference held by China’s Ministry of National Defense, a journalist asked about the Taiwanese Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government warning retired military officers that if they participate in the upcoming September 3rd military parade on the mainland—as invited by Beijing—they risk losing their pensions. In response, spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang condemned the action, stating that the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression was a just struggle fought by all Chinese people against Japanese militarism. He criticized the DPP’s actions as a shameful betrayal of the nation, of history, and of conscience.

This incident has sparked widespread debate across the Taiwan Strait. On the mainland, the invitation to former Kuomintang (KMT) veterans to attend the September 3rd military parade is meant to emphasize a shared historical memory—the united Chinese resistance against a common enemy. The parade is positioned as a solemn commemoration of national unity and the collective effort during World War II, consistent with Beijing’s long-standing narrative of “national unity” and “shared heritage” across the Taiwan Strait.

In contrast, the DPP administration in Taiwan has issued strong objections to the participation of retired officers in such mainland-hosted events. The core of this opposition lies in several intertwined political and ideological factors. First and foremost is the adversarial relationship the DPP maintains with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Since taking office, the DPP has adopted a posture of vigilance and confrontation against Beijing, emphasizing Taiwan’s autonomy and rejecting any form of CCP influence. Under such a framework, any cross-strait interaction that appears to endorse the CCP’s narrative—especially involving former senior military personnel—is seen as politically dangerous and potentially harmful to national security.

Moreover, the DPP has been actively reshaping Taiwan’s own wartime history, often focusing on local Taiwanese narratives, such as Taiwanese soldiers serving in Southeast Asia, while downplaying the KMT-led war efforts. The attendance of KMT veterans at a Beijing-hosted event, from the DPP’s perspective, could appear to legitimize the mainland’s interpretation of history, undermining Taiwan’s separate identity and historical stance.

There is also a significant concern related to national security and military discipline. Some of the veterans invited to attend may have previously held high-ranking positions within the military, with access to classified information or strategic insights. Although many have long since retired, the DPP views any potential interaction with the mainland as a risk of espionage or propaganda exploitation. Consequently, Taiwan’s government invokes legal tools such as the “Act Governing Relations Between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area” to discourage participation, even threatening revocation of retirement benefits.

In response, Chinese defense spokesman Zhang Xiaogang expressed strong dissatisfaction. He accused the DPP of intimidating war heroes and betraying the nation’s collective memory of resistance against fascism. Zhang argued that honoring the veterans who fought during World War II should transcend political differences and be treated as a shared moral responsibility.

Ultimately, this controversy goes far beyond a simple question of whether veterans can attend a mainland parade. It reveals the deep rift between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait over national identity, historical narrative, and political legitimacy. For Beijing, the invitation symbolizes reconciliation and unity; for Taipei—especially under the DPP—it represents a threat to sovereignty and a challenge to Taiwan’s national narrative. Unfortunately, the veterans themselves, who once bravely fought for their country, have now become unwilling symbols caught in a renewed cross-strait political struggle. Rather than being remembered solely for their sacrifices, they are drawn into a modern ideological battlefield, once again asked to choose sides in a conflict not of their own making.