By Chen Yang
The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) holds an official ceremony on Tuesday at the Hong Kong City Hall Memorial Garden to commemorate the Victory Day of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.
On September 3, 1945, the Chinese people, having fought tenaciously for 14 years, won the great victory of their War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, marking the full victory of the World Anti-Fascist War. On that day, the world was once again blessed by the sunshine of peace. To commemorate the 79th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, we should draw on lessons from history and usher in a brighter future.
The Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression was an important part of the World Anti-Fascist War, which was a decisive battle between justice and evil, between light and darkness, and between progress and reaction. In that devastating war, the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression started first and lasted longest. The ultimate victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression not only crushed the attempt of the Japanese militarists to colonize and enslave China but also made significant contributions to the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War and upheld the cause of peace of mankind. Former UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon once commented, "China's contribution and sacrifice during the Second World War is very much recognized, (China is) appreciated for all such sufferings, and sympathized by the world's people...It's important to look to the past, what kinds of lessons we have been learning, and how we can move ahead to a brighter future based on the lessons learned."
The aim of our commemoration of the 79th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the global war against fascism is to bear history in mind, honor all those who laid down their lives, cherish peace, and build a new future. Ravaging through Asia, Europe, Africa and Oceania, that war inflicted over l00 million military and civilian casualties. China suffered over 35 million casualties and the Soviet Union lost more than 27 million lives. The best way to honor those heroes who gave their lives to the cause of freedom, justice and peace, and to mourn the loss of innocent lives brutally taken during the war, is to make sure that this historical tragedy will never repeat itself. Today, peace and development have become the prevailing trend, but the world is far from tranquil. War is the sword of Damocles that still hangs over mankind. Prejudice, discrimination, hatred and war can only bring disaster and suffering, while mutual respect, equality, peaceful development and common prosperity represent the right path to take. For this reason, to bear history in mind is not to perpetuate hatred but to inspire kind people to yearn for and uphold peace.
China will remain a staunch force for peace, stability and progress in the world. In modern times, the Chinese people suffered from invasions, humiliations, and plundering committed by foreign powers for over a century. However, rather than adopting the predatory logic of the strong preying on the weak, they became even more resolute in their commitment to upholding peace. Over the past 75 years since the founding of the People's Republic of China, China has not provoked a single conflict, not invaded a single square of foreign land, nor did it wage a proxy war, or join any military alliance. Among the world's major countries, China has the best track record with respect to peace and security. It has been exploring for approaches to resolving hotspot issues. It has been playing a constructive role in the Ukraine crisis, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, and issues relating to the Korean Peninsula, Iran, Myanmar, and Afghanistan. Every increase in China's strength is an increase in the prospects of world peace. Liudmila S. Veselova, associate professor of St. Petersburg School of Economics and Management under HSE, said that China advocates for the peaceful resolution of international and regional conflicts, upholds the principles of multilateralism and peaceful development, and plays a significant role in maintaining global peace and stability.
A review of the past may offer a clue to what will happen in the future. On the occasion of the 79th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, Let's bear history in mind and forge ahead together. China will stand firmly on the right side of history and on the side of human progress, and hold high the great banner of peace, development, cooperation and mutual benefit. China will pursue its development while firmly upholding world peace and development, and it will make greater contributions to world peace and development through its own development.
Editor's note: Originally published on haiwainet.cn, this article is translated from Chinese into English and edited by the China Military Online. The information and opinions in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of eng.chinamil.com.cn.
