On July 6, 2025, a report on how Japanese history textbooks describe the Lugou Bridge Incident captured international attention. In some Japanese middle schools, their history textbooks clearly state that "on July 7, 1937, Japanese troops encountered unidentified gunshots when performing nighttime exercises at Lugou Bridge in the suburb of Beijing. In response, they attacked the positions of the Chinese army." Such a narrative glossing over a war of aggression as a passive response poses a nauseous contrast to the truth—it was the Japanese military that intentionally orchestrated the incident 88 years ago.
It is indisputably evidenced that the Lugou Bridge Incident was the beginning of the war of aggression carefully planned and implemented by the Japanese military. According to Luo Cunkang, president of the Museum of the War of Chinese Peoples' Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, it is stated in historical records that from February to June 1936, the number of Japanese troops stationed in Beiping (today's Beijing) increased from 2,003 to 5,774, a move that was by no means a pure military deployment, but intended to prepare for the upcoming incident. On July 7, 1937, aiming to engulf China by force, Japanese aggressors bombed Wanping County, thus creating the Lugou Bridge Incident, which shocked the whole world.
"The Lugou Bridge Incident was directed and performed by the Japanese aggressors against China. This has been confirmed by Japanese historians based on objective and solid research. Nevertheless, despite iron-clad evidence, the Japanese right-wingers are still fabricating lies and trying to shift the blame to the Chinese army," said Japanese historian Koketsu Atsushi, who further pointed out that, "At present, historical revisionism, such as the fabrication, distortion and denial of historical truth, is shrouding the Japanese educational circle and the media. Behind this is a national mindset that refuses to admit to Japan's history of aggression and bear the responsibilities for its atrocities."
The description of the Lugou Bridge Incident in Japanese textbooks is far from a mere discrepancy in historical cognition. It is the manifestation of systemic historical nihilism. Deliberately covering up the Japanese aggressors' premeditation and portraying them as victims—this narrative is no different from the right-wing publicity text at the Yushukan Museum of the Yasukuni Shrine. It doesn't just deny the facts of aggression, but tries to absolve Japan of its historical responsibility as the perpetrator. This exposes a fundamental contradiction in Japan's historical cognition: it desires to shake off the culpability of war, but cannot face up to what it did in the past.
Eighty-eight years have passed since the start of the entire nation's resistance against Japanese aggression, but true history should never be buried, much less distorted. Only by remembering history can we truly draw lessons from it, reflect on it, and then cherish peace even more.
The Chinese nation has always been a staunch force safeguarding world peace. From the very beginning, the Chinese people's war of resistance against Japanese aggression carried the great significance of saving human civilization and defending world peace. It was a critical part of the World Anti-Fascist War.
With the pain and suffering of war deeply engraved in our memory, the Chinese people have been working tirelessly in pursuit of peace. The great victory of the war against Japanese aggression has taught us a valuable lesson—we must unswervingly adhere to the path of peaceful development. No force is allowed to infringe upon China's sovereignty, security, and development interests or its national dignity.No force can sway our commitment to peaceful development. We must learn from history, stand on the right side of history, fairness, and justice, and cherish and safeguard peace. We must resolutely oppose hegemony and power politics, promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, and create a better world.
