In order to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Republic of China’s victory in the War of Resistance against Japan, the Humanities Research Center at National Chengchi University (NCCU) has arranged to hold a series of workshops particularly focusing on some turning points or key years in the history of modern China. The Humanities Research Center will invite scholars and experts in different academic disciplines to give special lectures to depict history from various angles and also retrospect those unforgettable historical events.

The first workshop entitled “Key Years in the History of Modern China: Unforgettable 1945-1949” was successfully held in the Howard Civil Service International House on October 21, 2015. Many domestic important scholars in the field of history of modern China were invited to attend the workshop and participate in discussions. These guests were as follows: Academician Yu-fa Chang (Academia Sinica), Professor Wei-kai Liu (Department of History, NCCU), Professor Whei-ming Chou (Department of History, NCCU), Dean Ming Lee (College of International Affairs, NCCU), Distinguished Professor Chung-chian Teng (Department of Diplomacy, NCCU), Associate Professor Hong-yi Lien (Department of Diplomacy, NCCU), Chairperson Tung-fa Lin (Department of History, the Fu Jen Catholic University), Chairperson Wei-chen Yang (Department of History, National Chung Cheng University), Adjunct Professor Pen-ren Chen (Department of Japanese Language and Literature, Chinese Culture University), Dr. Ji Chou (Member of Advisory Board of Chung-hua Institution for Economic Research), and Professor Shih-hsiung Chow (retired from the Institute of China and Asia-Pacific Studies, National Sun Yat-sen University). By examining politics, military, diplomacy, and economy during 1945-1949, scholars reevaluated this crucial period in the history of modern China and discussed its decisive impact on the current situation of the cross-strait relations.

In addition to a round table discussion, Mr. Wei-jen Hu, a senior advisor to the Office of the President of the Republic of China, also gave a keynote lecture. In his lecture, Hu reviewed the political situation and development of the Taiwan Strait after the Republic of China won the War of Resistance against Japan.

It is impossible to really go back to any historical events personally. However, if history could be interpreted from a witness’s viewpoint or local people’s actual experiences, the “small” history would possibly reveal its own meaning and find its position within the “big” history, and people might have the opportunity to reach a better understanding of history and respect its diversity.