War is not the solution

A protester wears a cutout of a defaced portrait of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe while holding a sign which reads "security bill", as others carry illustrations of the Japanese military flag, during a demonstration outside the Japanese consulate in Hong Kong, China July 7, 2015. [Photo/Agencies]

At a time when people around the world are celebrating the 70th anniversary of victory in the anti-fascist war, decision-makers in all countries should reflect on the consequences of war. Yet, certain countries are still fueling people's war expectations.

In July, the Pentagon released its latest National Military Strategy, in which it claimed there is an increasing possibility of a war between the United States and another big power. Such developments go against the peace, cooperation and development that are the common aspirations of people around the world.

A few days ago in Japan the lower house of the Diet approved a new security bill, which will fully lift the ban on the country's right to exercise collective self-defense. The move has sparked grave concerns in the international community.

A historic agreement recently reached on the Iranian nuclear issue has demonstrated that the use of force or the threat to use force and unilateral sanctions have lost their popularity.

The international community is striving to resolve problems in a cooperative manner. Economic globalization has also made the "economics of war" less popular. A recent report published by the Australian Institute for Economics and Peace said the wars and conflicts around the world consumed $14.3 trillion in 2014, or 13.4 percent of the world's total gross domestic product.

"Peace not war, and cooperation not confrontation, are the eternal themes of human society," President Xi Jinping has emphasized. The just use of power will finally help peace, development and cooperation overcome conflict and war.

The above is an abridgement of a People's Daily article Wednesday.