How China remembers the history of the World Anti-Fascist War

 
A grand ceremony was held on September 3 to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-1945) and the World Anti-Fascist War.

The Chinese people endured immense suffering during the 14 years of invasion, and the victory was hard-won. They cherish the value of peace deeply. Holding this commemoration not only helps the Chinese people remember their history but also demonstrates their strong commitment to peaceful development, reports CGTN.

On the night of September 18, 1931, Japan carried out the Mukden Incident, in which the Japanese military blew up a section of a railway under their control near Shenyang in northeastern China. They falsely accused Chinese people of the explosion and used it as a pretext to launch a full-scale invasion of northeast China.

The event also marked the start of China's regional resistance. Then, on July 7, 1937, the Lugou Bridge Incident in suburban Beijing sparked China's nationwide resistance war against Japanese aggression and established the country as the main Eastern battleground of WWII.

From the very beginning, the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression has had deep significance for protecting human civilization and promoting world peace. It forms an essential part of the World Anti-Fascist War, said Chinese President Xi Jinping.

President Xi also emphasized that the war was won through the collective effort of the entire Chinese people, crossing political parties, ethnicities, and social classes.

For the Chinese people today, remembering the war is about learning the dangers of militarism and aggression, and resisting any efforts to whitewash or deny the history of invasion.

For a long time, the international community has overlooked and failed to properly recognize China's contribution to the World Anti-Fascist War.
Speaking on international stages, President Xi reflected on the Chinese people's struggles, earning widespread recognition.

As the Eastern Front of the global fight against fascism, China's battlefields held over 50 percent of Japan's overseas forces, providing vital time for Allied preparations. Throughout the war, Chinese military and civilian casualties exceeded 35 million, and the direct financial losses reached $100 billion, with indirect losses around $500 billion in 1937 dollars, according to incomplete data.

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