Full Breakdown
China Uses African Exhibitions to Advance Taiwan Reunification Narrative
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Core Event: Photo Exhibitions Mark 81st Anniversary of Taiwan’s Restoration
In October 2026, Xinhua’s Africa Regional Bureau held photo exhibitions in Abuja and Nairobi to commemorate the 81st anniversary of Taiwan’s restoration to China after Japan’s 1945 surrender. Officials presented the shows as cultural diplomacy to deepen African understanding of China’s stance on sovereignty and reunification.
Background & Context
Taiwan transferred to Chinese administration on 25 Oct 1945. In 2025 the NPC Standing Committee designated that date as the Commemoration Day of Taiwan’s Restoration, reinforcing the “One-China principle.” The exhibitions coincide with the 70th anniversary of China-Africa diplomatic ties and the 2026 “China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges,” linking anti-colonial solidarity with Beijing’s Taiwan policy.
Key Figures & Groups
- Gui Tao, Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Xinhua Africa; highlighted activities in five African nations.
- Yang Jianxing, Cultural Counsellor, Chinese Embassy in Nigeria; described the restoration as a victory of the War of Resistance.
- Guo Haiyan, Chinese Ambassador to Kenya; declared reunification “inevitable” and cited the Cairo Declaration, Potsdam Proclamation and UN Resolution 2758.
- Sheriff Ibrahim, Centre for Contemporary China-Africa Research, Nigeria; affirmed Nigeria’s recognition of the one-China principle.
- Leo Zhao, Executive Vice-President, China Council for the Promotion of Peaceful National Reunification in Kenya; urged overseas Chinese support.
- Ying Qiang, Director, Xinhua Africa; announced the tour to Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Nigeria and Mozambique.
Data & Statistics
- Photographs displayed: > 30 across four thematic sections.
- African nations on tour: 5 (Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Nigeria, Mozambique).
- African votes for UN Resolution 2758 (1971): 26 countries.
Official Statements & Responses
- Guo Haiyan said “the motherland will be reunified” and that Taiwan’s independence push is “doomed to fail.”
- Gui Tao argued shared colonial histories foster appreciation of sovereignty.
- Sheriff Ibrahim noted Nigeria’s long-standing reaffirmation of the one-China principle.
- Leo Zhao called on overseas Chinese to promote the reunification agenda.
- Ying Qiang said the exhibition reflects the broader fight against fascism and strengthens people-to-people ties.
Why It Matters / Impact
By linking Taiwan’s restoration to Africa’s anti-colonial struggles, China aims to secure diplomatic backing for its Taiwan policy from a bloc that traditionally supports the One-China principle. The exhibitions function as cultural outreach and a platform to reinforce narratives of sovereignty and “peaceful reunification,” potentially influencing African foreign ministries to oppose Taiwanese independence.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
All sources present the exhibitions as supportive of Beijing; independent assessments of audience reception or policy impact are absent. Attendance figures and the effectiveness of the messaging remain unverified.
Verbatim Quotes
- “African freedom was not a gift; it was paid for in blood, from the Mau Mau struggle in Kenya to the liberation movements across Southern Africa,” — Erastus Mwencha
What’s Next
The tour will continue to Tanzania, South Africa, Nigeria and Mozambique later in 2026, per Xinhua’s Africa Regional Bureau director. No further dates have been disclosed.