A Japanese soldier sitting on his knees, two angel-like wings on his back — this marble sculpture is part of a memorial unveiled in southern Taiwan on Aug 8 in memory of thousands of the island's youths who "volunteered" to serve in the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II.

Some in Taiwan were always "proud" to be a Japanese colony 78 years ago, but it's shocking to see that they feel good about their compatriots being massacred. A video of the unveiling ceremony shows some elderly people who had worked at a factory that manufactured planes for the Imperial Japanese Navy in Koza district, Kanagawa prefecture, in their youth, leaving a message on the sculpture, saying "Koza friendship between Japan and Taiwan exists forever."

Unlike some who were forcibly sent to work in Japanese mines, these laborers volunteered to work in Japan for higher pay. Japanese pilots flew the planes they manufactured to bomb allied forces and civilians, both Chinese and Americans. Yet instead of regretting that inglorious history, they seem to take pride in it.

When news of the statue's unveiling and jubilation was shared on X, formerly Twitter, some people commented by calling it Stockholm syndrome in which victims develop positive feelings for their captors. But it might be too tame a term when talking about those who proudly recall how they served those who invaded their homes and took them hostage.

While some in Taiwan are afflicted with this syndrome, they are boldly flaunting it because of the secessionist movement in Taiwan. The ruling Democratic Progressive Party is going all out to encourage them while removing all signs of the mainland and patriotism from textbooks and people's minds. As a result many locals end up seeing the invader as their friend.

Only a complete reunification of the Chinese nation can rid some people of the Stockholm syndrome.

?