This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, the Great Patriotic War of the Soviet Union, and the World Anti-Fascist War, as well as the founding of the United Nations (UN). May 8 marks Victory in Europe Day, while the victory day of the Great Patriotic War of the Soviet Union falls on May 9. We pay high tribute to all peoples who contributed to the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War.
The World Anti-Fascist War was a decisive battle between justice and evil, between light and darkness, and between progress and reaction. This unprecedented war in human history saw its flames engulf Asia, Europe, Africa, and Oceania. More than 80 countries and regions, involving some 2 billion people, were drawn into the conflict. It inflicted over 100 million military and civilian casualties. China suffered over 35 million casualties and the Soviet Union lost more than 27 million lives.
As the main battlefield in the East during the world's anti-Fascist war, the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression started the first and lasted the longest. The Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression provided vital strategic support to the Allied forces. It complemented operations on both the European and Pacific fronts, disrupted the coordination attempts between Japanese fascists and the German and Italian fascists, and played a crucial role in undermining their strategic plans. China’s efforts made an immense contribution to the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War and the great cause of world peace.
The reason why we should bear in mind the history of war is to safeguard world peace and create a brighter future. Eighty years ago, the forces of justice across the world, including China and the Soviet Union, stood united and fought courageously to defeat the overbearing fascist powers. Eighty years later today, however, unilateralism, hegemony, and power politics continue to inflict serious harm, and humanity once again finds itself at a crossroads of unity or division, dialogue or confrontation, win-win cooperation or zero-sum games.
War is like a mirror. Looking into it helps us better appreciate the value of peace. Only with peace and stability can humanity better achieve its aspirations. The law of the jungle that leaves the weak at the mercy of the strong is not the way for humans to coexist, nor is zero-sum games featuring the practice of "winner-takes-all" the path to global development.
China is a peace-loving nation. The Chinese military is both a great wall of steel to safeguard China's national sovereignty, security, and development interests, and a staunch force for maintaining world peace. All countries should jointly uphold the international system with the United Nations at its core, the international order underpinned by international law, and the basic norms governing international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, promote the lofty cause of world peace and development and strive tirelessly for the lofty goal of building a community with a shared future for mankind.
