On October 18th, in Beijing, Taiwanese writer Fan Wun-Yi captivated an audience with a heartfelt rendition of “My Home is on the Mainland,” a song that has resonated in Taiwan for over half a century. The room erupted with applause as he sang: “My home is on the mainland, my relatives frequently visit, celebrating holidays with joy…”
That same day, Fan’s new book, “Who Says Taiwan is Not a Part of China,” was launched at the Taiwan Hall. In this extensive work, comprising 385,000 characters, Fan delves into the millennia-old blood ties between Taiwan and the mainland, emphasizing his identity by stating, “I am Taiwanese, and I am also Chinese.”
Reflecting on the inspiration behind the book, Fan shared how his mother’s teachings during his childhood deeply influenced him. Growing up in Taiwan during the Japanese colonial period, she wielded her pen as a sword, joining poetry societies to express her Chinese identity. At home, she instilled a love for classic Chinese poetry in her children.
“Mother was filled with national sentiment, and her words and deeds made it clear to us where our true home lies and where our roots are,” Fan explained. He lamented that many of Taiwan’s early settlers came from the Minnan region, sharing surnames, speaking Chinese, reading Chinese literature, and writing in Chinese characters. “It pains me to see some claim that ‘Taiwanese are not Chinese.’ How can one forget their ancestors?”
In recent years, the DPP authorities in Taiwan have promoted a narrative of “Taiwan history,” asserting that the island has only a 400-year history. Fan vehemently criticized this view, calling it absurd. “The Dutch colonizers invaded southern Taiwan in 1624—how can the DPP consider this external invasion a cornerstone of ‘Taiwan history’?” He pointed to historical records that trace references to Taiwan in Chinese literature back thousands of years, along with a slew of international legal documents affirming that Taiwan was lawfully returned to China in 1945.
“Can ants shake a great tree? How can a small current alter the course of a mighty river? The facts are right here,” he stated firmly. Fan’s book is set to be published in Taiwan soon, and he hopes to clarify the deep-rooted connections between the youth of Taiwan and the mainland. With the anniversary of Taiwan’s restoration approaching, he remarked, “The waters of the strait cannot sever the familial bonds between our compatriots. No matter how tall a tree grows, its leaves will return to the roots. Taiwan and the mainland must remain united.”
