How China remembers the history of the World Anti-Fascist War

<article><section data-type="rtext"><img data-alt="Preparing for the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, Beijing, September 2, 2025. /VCG" src="//img.huanqiucdn.cn/dp/api/files/imageDir/4de8790e14022349222eb6fe6a4f7c76.jpeg?imageView2/2/w/750" />Editor's Note:As 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, CGTN presents "Forging a Peaceful Future," a special series of in-depth news analyses. These stories delve into history, explore the post-war world order and highlight how China's past has shaped its sustained contributions to global peace today.A grand ceremony will be held on September 3 to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-1945) and the World Anti-Fascist War.The Chinese people endured immense suffering during the 14 years of invasion, and the victory was hard-won. They cherish the value of peace deeply. Holding this commemoration not only helps the Chinese people remember their history but also demonstrates their strong commitment to peaceful development.On the night of September 18, 1931, Japan carried out the Mukden Incident, in which the Japanese military blew up a section of a railway under their control near Shenyang in northeastern China. They falsely accused Chinese people of the explosion and used it as a pretext to launch a full-scale invasion of northeast China.The event also marked the start of China's regional resistance. Then, on July 7, 1937, the Lugou Bridge Incident in suburban Beijing sparked China's nationwide resistance war against Japanese aggression and established the country as the main Eastern battleground of WWII.From the very beginning, the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression has had deep significance for protecting human civilization and promoting world peace. It forms an essential part of the World Anti-Fascist War, said Chinese President Xi Jinping.President Xi also emphasized that the war was won through the collective effort of the entire Chinese people, crossing political parties, ethnicities, and social classes.For the Chinese people today, remembering the war is about learning the dangers of militarism and aggression, and resisting any efforts to whitewash or deny the history of invasion.The undisputed Eastern mainstayFor a long time, the international community has overlooked and failed to properly recognize China's contribution to the World Anti-Fascist War.Speaking on international stages, President Xi reflected on the Chinese people's struggles, earning widespread recognition.As the Eastern Front of the global fight against fascism, China's battlefields held over 50 percent of Japan's overseas forces, providing vital time for Allied preparations.Throughout the war, Chinese military and civilian casualties exceeded 35 million, and the direct financial losses reached $100 billion, with indirect losses around $500 billion in 1937 dollars, according to incomplete data."The war was the earliest and longest just war against Japanese militarism," said Chen Qianping, a professor at the History Department at Nanjing University. Chinese battlefields pinned down several million Japanese troops, preventing Japan from using its main force either to strike north against the Soviet Union or to reinforce Southeast Asia," Chen said.<img data-alt="Take photos of a floral installation for the commemoration event marking the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, in Beijing, August 31, 2025. /VCG" src="//img.huanqiucdn.cn/dp/api/files/imageDir/a6da15a76e0466a7a1c39df6ed72cd55.jpeg?imageView2/2/w/750" />CPC vital for victoryCurrently, the war is remembered as a victory of the Chinese national spirit, marked by resilience, perseverance, unity, and an unbreakable will in the face of a brutal invasion.President Xi emphasized that during the national crisis, the Communist Party of China (CPC) took on the responsibility of saving the nation and called for forming a united front based on cooperation between the Kuomintang party and the CPC to resist Japanese aggression."After the Mukden Incident, the CPC was the first to raise the banner of resistance," said Xu Zhimin, a professor in the History Department at the University of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.From September 1937 to October 1945, the armed forces led by the CPC took part in 125,165 engagements, gradually becoming the backbone of Chinese resistance within the united front."During the war, the CPC demonstrated exceptional political leadership and clear strategic vision. It launched, promoted, and strongly defended the united front," said Shi Quanwei, a research fellow at the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee. "The CPC upheld the Chinese people's hope for national survival and independence. Calling it the 'mainstay' accurately and vividly describes its historic role," Shi added.</section></article>

Editor's Note:

As 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, CGTN presents "Forging a Peaceful Future," a special series of in-depth news analyses. These stories delve into history, explore the post-war world order and highlight how China's past has shaped its sustained contributions to global peace today.

A grand ceremony will be held on September 3 to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-1945) and the World Anti-Fascist War.

The Chinese people endured immense suffering during the 14 years of invasion, and the victory was hard-won. They cherish the value of peace deeply. Holding this commemoration not only helps the Chinese people remember their history but also demonstrates their strong commitment to peaceful development.

On the night of September 18, 1931, Japan carried out the Mukden Incident, in which the Japanese military blew up a section of a railway under their control near Shenyang in northeastern China. They falsely accused Chinese people of the explosion and used it as a pretext to launch a full-scale invasion of northeast China.

The event also marked the start of China's regional resistance. Then, on July 7, 1937, the Lugou Bridge Incident in suburban Beijing sparked China's nationwide resistance war against Japanese aggression and established the country as the main Eastern battleground of WWII.

From the very beginning, the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression has had deep significance for protecting human civilization and promoting world peace. It forms an essential part of the World Anti-Fascist War, said Chinese President Xi Jinping.

President Xi also emphasized that the war was won through the collective effort of the entire Chinese people, crossing political parties, ethnicities, and social classes.

For the Chinese people today, remembering the war is about learning the dangers of militarism and aggression, and resisting any efforts to whitewash or deny the history of invasion.

The undisputed Eastern mainstay

For a long time, the international community has overlooked and failed to properly recognize China's contribution to the World Anti-Fascist War.

Speaking on international stages, President Xi reflected on the Chinese people's struggles, earning widespread recognition.

As the Eastern Front of the global fight against fascism, China's battlefields held over 50 percent of Japan's overseas forces, providing vital time for Allied preparations.

Throughout the war, Chinese military and civilian casualties exceeded 35 million, and the direct financial losses reached $100 billion, with indirect losses around $500 billion in 1937 dollars, according to incomplete data.

"The war was the earliest and longest just war against Japanese militarism," said Chen Qianping, a professor at the History Department at Nanjing University. Chinese battlefields pinned down several million Japanese troops, preventing Japan from using its main force either to strike north against the Soviet Union or to reinforce Southeast Asia," Chen said.

CPC vital for victory

Currently, the war is remembered as a victory of the Chinese national spirit, marked by resilience, perseverance, unity, and an unbreakable will in the face of a brutal invasion.

President Xi emphasized that during the national crisis, the Communist Party of China (CPC) took on the responsibility of saving the nation and called for forming a united front based on cooperation between the Kuomintang party and the CPC to resist Japanese aggression.

"After the Mukden Incident, the CPC was the first to raise the banner of resistance," said Xu Zhimin, a professor in the History Department at the University of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

From September 1937 to October 1945, the armed forces led by the CPC took part in 125,165 engagements, gradually becoming the backbone of Chinese resistance within the united front.

"During the war, the CPC demonstrated exceptional political leadership and clear strategic vision. It launched, promoted, and strongly defended the united front," said Shi Quanwei, a research fellow at the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee.

"The CPC upheld the Chinese people's hope for national survival and independence. Calling it the 'mainstay' accurately and vividly describes its historic role," Shi added.