Taipei: President Lai Ching-te on Wednesday joined Israeli and German envoys to Taiwan in remembering victims and survivors of the Holocaust during an annual memorial event in Taipei. In a rare English language address made during International Holocaust Remembrance Day in Taipei, the president said the policies of the authoritarian Nazi regime resulted in the deaths of approximately 6 million Jews during the Holocaust. “It is one of the darkest chapters in human history.”

According to Focus Taiwan, Lai, a former Tainan Mayor, emphasized the significance of such occasions in preserving historical memory and reinforcing the resolve to combat hatred and discrimination. He highlighted the presence of Taiwan’s first Holocaust Memorial Museum in Tainan, which aims to foster love and advocate for peace.

Andreas Hofem, deputy director of the German Institute Taipei, acknowledged the responsibility felt by Germans today despite not being directly guilty of past atrocities. He stressed the importance of Germany’s “culture of remembrance,” which serves as a pillar of democracy and a reminder of the fragility of freedom.

Israel’s representative to Taiwan, Maya Yaron, reiterated the Holocaust’s universal lessons, warning against the unchecked spread of hatred. She noted the efforts of the Israel Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei in promoting Holocaust history and education, pointing out the rise in discrimination against Jewish people.

The Israeli and German offices in Taiwan have jointly observed International Holocaust Remembrance Day since 2016, honoring the victims of the genocide committed by Nazi Germany from 1941-1945. The United Nations designated January 27 as the remembrance date, marking the liberation of Auschwitz concentration camp by the Soviet army in 1945.

This year’s memorial followed an incident involving a political activist dressed in Nazi attire, which drew criticism from Taiwan’s government and the Israeli and German offices. Sung Chien-liang, associated with a Kuomintang-backed campaign, was photographed making a Nazi salute, sparking widespread condemnation. The Kuomintang party distanced itself from Sung, asserting he is not a member.