By Jun Sheng
钧声
Commemoration and military affairs are matters of vital importance to the nation. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. China will hold a series of major commemorative events. One of the highlights is a grand military parade at Beijing's Tian'anmen Square themed on commemorating the great victory and promoting the enduring spirit of the War of Resistance.
国之大事，在祀与戎。今年是中国人民抗日战争暨世界反法西斯战争胜利80周年，中国将举行一系列重要纪念活动，其中一项重点活动，就是在北京天安门广场举行以纪念抗战伟大胜利、弘扬抗战伟大精神为主题的盛大阅兵式。
Japan, as the defeated country, has not only abandoned the long-standing practice of issuing a prime ministerial statement every decade to reflect on the war, but has instead criticized that "China's commemorative events have anti-Japanese overtones," even urging European and Asian nations through diplomatic channels not to attend. Some Japanese media outlets have gone further, accusing China's military parade of "showcasing military might" and hyping up the so-called "China threat," clamoring that Japan must strengthen its armed forces in response. Such rhetoric not only distorts facts and misleads the public but also reveals the deeply ingrained, misguided view of history that persists in Japan.
作为战败国的日本，不仅没有延续逢十发表“首相谈话”的惯例，对战争作出彻底的反省，反而指责中国的纪念活动“过度聚焦历史、反日色彩浓厚”，并通过外交渠道呼吁欧洲及亚洲各国不要参加。更有日本媒体指责中国的阅兵活动是在“炫耀武力”，借机渲染“中国威胁”，叫嚣日本必须提升军力进行应对。这些论调，不仅歪曲事实、混淆视听，更折射出其根深蒂固的错误历史观。
A military parade is a tribute to victory and a remembrance of history. On the main Eastern battlefield of WWII, the Chinese people fought a 14-year grueling war. They paid a heavy price, with 35 million casualties, to defeat the Japanese invaders. They completely shattered Japan's militarist and colonial plans to enslave China and secured the ultimate victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. This parade shows the historical truth that justice will prevail, peace will prevail, and people will prevail. It is self-evident and beyond reproach.
阅兵是对胜利的致敬，也是对历史的铭记。在二战的东方主战场，中国人民经过14年浴血奋战、付出伤亡3500万人的沉重代价，打败了日本侵略者，彻底粉碎了日本军国主义殖民奴役中国的图谋，夺取了中国人民抗日战争和世界反法西斯战争的最后胜利。这次阅兵，是正义必胜、和平必胜、人民必胜历史铁律的宣告和昭示，天经地义，无可非议。
In fact, it is a common practice worldwide to commemorate World War II through parades and similar events. On the 60th, 70th, and 80th anniversaries of the Normandy Landings of the Allies, France held grand military parades. Since 1995, Russia has held annual Victory Day parades and related celebrations of the Great Patriotic War. Many other countries held parades on their national independence days to mark liberation. The UK not only organized a parade, an air show, and a concert at the Parliament to mark the 80th anniversary of the Anti-Fascist War victory in May, but also held a ceremony on August 15 to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Britain’s Victory over Japan (VJ) Day. These events serve both as a remembrance of history and a celebration of victory.
事实上，放眼全球，通过阅兵等形式纪念二战的活动比比皆是。在盟军诺曼底登陆成功60周年、70周年、80周年之际，法国都曾举行盛大阅兵活动；自1995年起，俄罗斯每年都举行卫国战争胜利日阅兵式及系列庆祝活动；更多的国家，则会在获得民族解放的独立日举行阅兵活动。英国不仅在5月组织阅兵式、空军飞行表演、议会大厦音乐会等活动纪念反法西斯战争胜利80周年，还于8月15日举行仪式纪念二战对日作战胜利80周年。这些安排，既是缅怀历史的检阅，也是纪念胜利的庆典。
The military parade is also a review of combat readiness and victory capability. Since modern times, China has painfully learned the cost of backwardness, repeated defeats, and humiliation. The brutal invasion by Japanese militarism once brought the Chinese nation to the brink of national collapse and extinction. The World Anti-Fascist War has shown that the weak suffer defeat, and a strong country must maintain a strong military. All the weapons and equipment on display in this parade are domestically produced and in active service. With high levels of informatization and intelligence, they fully demonstrate the Chinese military's ability to adapt to technological advances and evolving forms of warfare, and to win future battles. The military parade allows the Chinese people to remember deeply the lesson that "a nation cannot stand without defense, and the people cannot be secure without defense." It reinforces the concept that "our military is the people's military, and our national defense is the responsibility of every one of us." The Chinese military will carry forward and promote the great spiritual legacy of resisting aggression. They will showcase their unwavering determination and strong capabilities to safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests.
阅兵更是对备战意识和胜利能力的检阅。近代以来，中国落后挨打、受人欺辱的历史教训刻骨铭心。日本军国主义的野蛮入侵，更使中华民族陷入亡国灭种的境地。世界反法西斯战争昭示我们，落后就要挨打，强国必须强军。这次阅兵，所有受阅武器装备都是国产现役主战装备，信息化、智能化程度都比较高，充分体现我军适应科技发展和战争形态演变、打赢未来战争的强大能力。阅兵可以让国人更加深刻地铭记“国无防不立，民无防不安”的历史训诫，深化“我们的军队是人民军队，我们的国防是全民国防”的思想观念。中国军队将始终传承和弘扬伟大抗战精神，展现捍卫国家主权、安全和发展利益的坚定决心和强大能力。
The military parade is not a show of force, nor is it meant to provoke confrontation. It aims to demonstrate China's determination to uphold the post-war international order and pursue the path of peaceful development. For a long time, Japan's stubborn right-wing forces have openly distorted and glorified their acts of aggression. They refuse to reflect on their responsibility and even portray themselves as victims of the war, brazenly glorifying militarism. The Japanese side has drastically increased its defense budget, constantly developing offensive weapons such as long-range missiles, going further down the dangerous path of military buildup. This underscores the necessity of upholding the correct historical perspective on WWII and jointly safeguarding international fairness and justice. The aim of China's military parade and other activities to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War is to bear history in mind, honor all those who laid down their lives, cherish peace and open up the future. Any nation that faces history honestly, learns from the past, and is truly committed to peaceful development, will neither make baseless criticisms nor harbor resentment. They will not distort, attack, or smear such commemorative acts.
阅兵不是炫耀武力，更不是为了搞对抗，而是要彰显维护战后国际秩序、走和平发展道路的决心。长期以来，日本顽固的右翼势力公然歪曲和美化侵略历史、拒不反省加害责任，甚至把自己打扮成战争的受害者、公然为军国主义招魂。不仅如此，日方近年来还大幅增加防卫预算，不断发展远程导弹等进攻性武器，在强军扩武的危险道路上越走越远。这更加凸显了弘扬正确二战史观，共同维护国际公平正义的必要性。中国举行阅兵等活动隆重纪念中国人民抗日战争暨世界反法西斯战争胜利80周年，就是为了铭记历史、缅怀先烈、珍爱和平、开创未来。任何正直坦荡面对历史、真正汲取历史教训、切实致力于和平发展的国家，都不会对此说三道四、指手画脚，更不会心怀不满，甚至歪曲解读、攻击抹黑。
Concealing historical facts and shirking responsibility cannot whitewash Japan. Refusing to admit guilt or express remorse prevents any progress toward the future. To view and treat history correctly is an important prerequisite for Japan's post-war return to the international community, the political foundation for Japan's ties with neighboring countries, and more importantly, a key measure for Japan's adherence to the path of peaceful development. Any statements by Japan that deny acts of aggression or whitewash its war of aggression and colonial rule inevitably provoke deep anger, strong condemnation, and heightened vigilance among the Chinese people and other peoples in Asia. Any attempt by Japan to expand its military will only deepen international concerns about a return to the evil path of militarism. We urge the Japanese side to reflect deeply upon the history of aggression, learn the lessons of history, act prudently in handling historical issues, make a clean break with militarism, stay committed to peaceful development, and win the trust of its Asian neighbors and the international community.
掩盖史实和推卸责任无法“洗白”自己，拒不认罪、悔罪无法走向未来。正确认识和对待历史，是日本战后重返国际社会的重要前提，是日本同周边国家发展关系的重要基础，更是检验日本能否恪守和平发展承诺的一杆标尺。日本任何否认侵略历史甚至美化侵略战争和殖民统治的言论，都不能不引起中国人民和亚洲国家人民的极大愤慨、严厉谴责、高度警惕。日本任何大搞军事扩张的行径，都只会让国际社会对其重走军国主义邪路的担忧愈发强烈。我们严肃敦促日方深刻反省侵略历史，以史为鉴，谨言慎行，同军国主义彻底切割，坚持走和平发展道路，只有这样才能取信于亚洲邻国和国际社会。