A window to WWII and path to peace

The sights and sounds of celebratory drums, lion dancers and the Boy Scouts of Troop 485 presenting the United States colors drew media outlets from around the world to the heart of San Francisco's Chinatown on Aug 15 to record the work of community volunteers, US war veterans and other dignitaries at the opening of the nation's first World War II Pacific War Memorial Hall.

The end of WWII on the very same day 70 years ago marked the world's victory against fascism. It also marked the victory of Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1937-45).

WWII was fought mostly on two continental fronts: the European theater, where the US focused all its early efforts to defeat Nazi Germany, and the Asia-Pacific theater where China led the resistance against fascist Japan before American and British forces joined in. More than 20 million Chinese and at least 2 million Japanese perished in the Asia-Pacific war. Millions more Chinese were displaced, leading to the largest human migration in not just China but also the world.