Anti-Fascist War Victory Remains Significant

This year is the 80th anniversary of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War, and China, Russia and other countries have scheduled grand commemorative events. The aim of these activities is not to perpetuate hatred, but to remind people to learn from history and avoid repeating the mistakes of the past; it is to call on people to honor all those who laid down their lives and to cherish peace; it is all the more to oppose any attempt to falsify history, deny crimes of aggression and undermine peaceful development.

For China, commemorating the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War can strengthen international cooperation in upholding the multilateral trading system, promoting economic globalization and safeguarding world peace and development. Additionally, it serves as a vehicle for carrying forward the spirit of struggle against injustice and inspiring people’s sense of pride and cohesion, thereby advancing Chinese modernization.

The World Anti-Fascist War first broke out in China with the September 18 Incident in 1931, in which the Japanese forces stationed in northeast China under an unequal treaty attacked Shenyang, Liaoning Province. By February 1932, the Japanese had occupied all the three provinces in northeast China. The Chinese people then waged a 14-year arduous war of resistance, suffering more than 35 million casualties and making a huge national sacrifice for the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War. The Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression was an important part of the World Anti-Fascist War and the Chinese battlefield was its main eastern theater.

Whenever World War II (WWII) is discussed, the international community talks more about battles in Europe and Pacific such as the Normandy Landings, the Battle of Britain, the Dunkirk evacuation and the Pearl Harbor attack. The German invasion of Poland is widely recognized as the official start of WWII. But the July 7 Incident in 1937, also known as the Marco Polo Bridge Incident, in which Japanese forces attacked Chinese soldiers at the Lugou Bridge, or the Marco Polo Bridge, in the suburbs of Beijing, marked the start of Japan’s full-scale war of aggression against China, and in fact also marked the beginning of WWII.

By commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, China will encourage its people to learn from this historical lesson, cherish peace and demonstrate the determination to adhere to the path of peaceful development. China has always been committed to maintaining world peace and promoting the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.

WWII completely reshaped the international political landscape and accelerated the collapse of the global colonial system. The post-war collective rise of China and other developing countries has become an important force in opposing hegemonism and power politics and promoting the establishment of a fair and equitable international political and economic order. The activities commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War will provide a platform for exchange and cooperation among countries, which is conducive to promoting multilateral cooperation and jointly addressing global challenges.

The War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression was the first national liberation struggle in modern times in which China won a complete victory over foreign aggressors. Countless heroes defended the sovereignty of the country and the dignity of the Chinese nation with their lives. Through commemorative activities, China can further strengthen the study, dissemination and passing on of war history, honor all those who laid down their lives, cherish peace and oppose any attempt to tamper with history, whitewash crimes of aggression and undermine peaceful development, and at the same time unite efforts in pursuit of Chinese modernization and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.