This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. On September 3, a grand military parade will be held in Beijing’s Tian’anmen Square, themed on commemorating the great victory and promoting the great spirit of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, conveying to the world the Chinese people’s firm belief in “bearing history in mind and cherishing peace”.
In a similar vein, the China-South Sudan High-Level Peace and Development Symposium, jointly hosted by the Chinese Embassy in South Sudan and the University of Juba, was recently concluded successfully. This was the largest China-South Sudan academic symposium since South Sudan’s independence in 2011, where scholars from both countries engaged in enthusiastic discussions, transforming the victory achievements of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War into a driving force for progress in peace and development of both sides.
A great victory that saved China and changed the world
Going back to 1931, Japan brazenly launched the September 18 Incident, which marked the starting point of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and also unveiled the prelude to the World Anti-Fascist War. In 1937, Japanese militarism deliberately engineered the July 7 Incident, starting a full-scale invasion of China. After 14 years of fighting bloody battles with unyielding determination, the Chinese people completely shattered the attempt of Japanese militarism to colonize and enslave China. To defeat the Japanese aggressors, the Chinese people paid a huge price: more than half of the country’s territory was trampled underfoot by the Japanese invaders, over 930 cities were occupied, military and civilian casualties exceeded 35 million, direct economic losses amounted to 100 billion US dollars, with indirect losses reaching $500 billion…
As the main theater of the World Anti-Fascist War in the East, China contained the vast majority of the Japanese army’s ground forces and part of its naval and air power, providing strong support and strategic coordination for the allied operations in the European and Pacific theaters. Ultimately, more than 1.5 million Japanese troops were annihilated by Chinese armed forces in the China theater, accounting for over 70% of Japan’s total casualties in World War II, playing a decisive role in the complete destruction of the Japanese aggressors and making an indelible contribution to the ultimate victory of the World Anti-Fascist War.
South Sudan, as the world’s youngest country, won its independence after more than half a century of arduous struggle. During my three years working in South Sudan, I deeply felt that the people of South Sudan, like the Chinese people, oppose war and conflict and eagerly yearn for peace, stability, and prosperity. China will, as always, support the South Sudan peace process and provide necessary assistance. We are ready to work with the international community to play a constructive role in maintaining South Sudan’s national peace and stability and achieving its economic and social development.
A just force dedicated to safeguarding global peace and stability
As a victorious nation in World War II, China actively participated in building the post-war international order, making significant contributions to formulating the UN Charter and preparing for the establishment of the United Nations. Also, China became a permanent member of the UN Security Council and the first country to sign the UN Charter.
Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, it has unswervingly pursued an independent foreign policy of peace and has never started any war. China is the largest troop contributor to peacekeeping operations among the permanent members of the UN Security Council and the second-largest contributor to the UN regular budget and peacekeeping assessments, having made outstanding contributions to safeguarding world peace.
In the new era, China firmly follows the path of peaceful development. From jointly building the Belt and Road to promoting building a community with a shared future for humanity, from the Three Global Initiatives to the China-Africa “Ten Partnership Actions”, and from the all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era to the China-South Sudan strategic partnership, China has always been committed to contributing Chinese solutions and wisdom for solving humanity’s challenges.
At the China-South Sudan High-Level Peace and Development Symposium, one South Sudanese scholar said, “Today we see how a nation that experienced profound suffering 80 years ago has become a guardian of world peace. This is the hope that South Sudan needs most.” I fully agree with his words. As a South Sudanese proverb says, “the thorny fence is never your defense.” The memory of foreign evasions and bullying has never been erased from the minds of Chinese people. Therefore, we will never want to see others suffer what happened to us. China will always stand on the side of peace and stability, acting as a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, and a defender of the international order. This is the position that we have upheld in the past. It is what we will continue to uphold in the future.
The writer is the envoy of the People’s Republic of China to South Sudan.
The views expressed in ‘opinion’ articles published by Radio Tamazuj are solely those of the writer. The veracity of any claims made is the responsibility of the author, not Radio Tamazuj.