Parade upholds correct view of WWII history

The Sept 3 military parade, held to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and the World Anti-Fascist War, embodied the enduring spirit of the Chinese people to fight evil and injustice, while upholding the correct view of World War II and safeguarding the postwar international order.

Promoting the correct view of World War II history is crucial today. Eighty years ago, the victory achieved by the Chinese people against fascism contributed to the triumph of the Allied forces and brought the World Anti-Fascist War to an end. Today, as geopolitical rivalries intensify and the Cold War mentality resurfaces, certain forces are trying to distort history by promoting a wrong narrative of the war in an attempt to undermine the international order.

By championing the great spirit of resisting fascism and aggression during the war and upholding the correct historical view, the world can draw lessons from the past, avoid repeating the same mistakes, safeguard the foundation of peace, and steer the world order toward a more just and rational future.

To have the correct historical view of the war means respecting historical facts, safeguarding the truth, opposing "historical nihilism" in all its forms, and defending the victory in the war. It also means to fully acknowledge the historic contributions of China and the Soviet Union as the principal anti-fascist forces in Asia and Europe, respectively.

In the Asian theater of World War II, the Chinese people put up a 14-year resistance — from the Sept 18 Incident in 1931 to Japan's unconditional surrender in 1945 — against Japanese aggression, marking the earliest and longest anti-fascist struggle of the war. Suffering more than 35 million casualties, China inflicted over 1.5 million casualties on Japanese troops, which accounted for more than 70 percent of Japan's total military loss during the war.

The Communist Party of China was the first to advocate resistance against fascist aggression and fought on the front lines of the war, leading the united resistance and guiding the direction of national efforts.

China and the Soviet Union played decisive roles and made huge sacrifices in defeating fascist Japan and Nazi Germany, making extraordinary contributions to the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War and safeguarding global peace. However, certain countries and political forces, to maintain their dominance in global affairs, have been trying to distort history. Some wrong narratives, such as the "six-year war" theory, and attempts to portray "Japan as a victim" of World War II, deliberately overlook, downplay or attempt to erase the huge contributions of China and the Soviet Union to the victory in the World Anti-Fascist War, while denying the crimes of the fascist forces.

Some have even claimed the so-called Treaty of San Francisco supersedes the legally binding international documents such as the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation, which explicitly stipulate that Taiwan, which had been occupied by Japan, must be restored to its motherland. Moreover, the Japanese Instrument of Surrender affirms that Tokyo accepted the terms of the Potsdam Proclamation and surrendered unconditionally.

Furthermore, UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 clearly says there is only one China, and official UN documents refer to Taiwan as a province of China. These facts unequivocally confirm China's sovereignty over Taiwan and prove the Treaty of San Francisco is null and void.

Historical truth must not be distorted, Japanese fascist aggression must not be denied, the post-World War II international order must be maintained, and the historical and legal fact that Taiwan is a part of China should not be disputed. As for the international community, it must firmly oppose geopolitics-driven distorted narratives, which contradict historical facts, undermine the postwar international order, and threaten global peace and development.

In times of increasing instability, it is more crucial than ever to uphold the authority of the UN, maintain the international system centered on it, and adhere to international law and the fundamental norms of international relations rooted in the UN Charter.

But in order to fulfill their own interests, some countries are engaging in power politics, bullying other countries, and resorting to unilateral actions instead of seeking multilateral consultation, thereby undermining global fairness and justice. In contrast, China has been promoting the vision of a community with a shared future for humanity, as well as multilateralism. It has proposed the Belt and Road Initiative and four other global initiatives, calling on all countries to carry forward the historic spirit of solidarity that defined the world anti-fascist alliance, and work together to safeguard peace, and promote development.

China has always stood on the right side of history, defending international fairness and justice. Adhering to the correct view of history requires combating malicious attempts to distort history, trigger conflicts, instigate secessionist forces and whitewash the brutal actions of fascist forces. In such circumstances, it is essential to shape a collective memory of World War II.

And that is exactly what the Sept 3 military parade has done — it has featured heroic units displaying flags of honor and commendation, while showcasing China's achievements in national defense and military modernization in the new era, demonstrating the PLA's capability to safeguard sovereignty, national security, and development interests.

The parade sends a clear message to the world: the Chinese people remember history, cherish peace and celebrate the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

The authors are associate professors at the National Defense University of the People's Liberation Army. The views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily.

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