This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the World Anti-Fascist War, and the restoration of Taiwan to China. A series commemorative events will be held in China to mark this victory. Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend and deliver a speech at a gathering on the morning of Sept. 3, 2025 in Tian’anmen Square in Beijing, which will include a military parade. Through these commemorative activities, China joins people around the world in remembering this profound historical period and honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice for the triumph over fascism and the advancement of global peace. 

The Second World War marked one of the darkest chapters in human history. It spread over 80 countries and regions, involving approximately 2 billion people, resulting in more than 100 million military and civilian casualties, inflicting unprecedented devastation on human civilization and development. Forces of justice across the world—including China and Grenada—stood united in a courageous struggle against their common enemies, ultimately defeating the overbearing fascist powers. As the Eastern main theater, China’s battlefield witnessed the earliest outbreak and the longest duration of resistance. In 1931, Japan provoked the September 18th Incident and occupied the entire northeastern region of China. The Chinese people rose in courageous resistance, marking the beginning of the global anti-fascist war. On July 7, 1937, Japanese forces bombarded Wanping City and the Lugou Bridge, which marked the start of Japan’s full-scale invasion of China. The brutal aggression of Japanese militarism inflicted unprecedented catastrophes upon the Chinese people and provoked their indomitable resistance. From 1931 to the victory in 1945, the Chinese people fought a heroic 14-year war, confronting and pinning down two-thirds of Japan’s total ground forces and eliminating over 1.5 million Japanese troops. The Chinese people paid a tremendous national sacrifice, with more than 35 million military and civilian casualties. The Communist Party of China(CPC) served as the mainstay in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. As the first to raise the banner of armed resistance, the CPC mobilized mass participation in a people’s war and strengthened Party building to ensure members served as exemplary vanguards, thus created the essential political, military and social conditions for ultimate victory. Under its outstanding leadership, the Chinese people ultimately achieved national independence and liberation, marking a historic victory in the global anti-fascist struggle. The Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression played a decisive role in defeating Japanese fascism, and made indelible historic contributions to the complete victory of the World Anti-Fascist War. Grenada also made significant contributions to the fight against fascism through financial support, voluntary service, and resource management. The island’s resilience and sacrifice played a significant role in securing the victory. 

As a Chinese saying goes, “History is a mirror of the past and a lesson for the present.” The lessons of WWII are clear: militarist aggression, power politics, and bullying have no place in the pursuit of peace. The zero-sum mentality and winner-takes-all approach are not the paths to progress. Today, the world is once again being undermined by unilateralism, hegemonism, and coercive practices. Humanity stands at another crossroads: unity or division, dialogue or confrontation, win-win cooperation or zero-sum rivalry. We must draw wisdom from history, look toward the future, and work together to build lasting peace for all.

We must learn from history and uphold a correct historical perspective on WWII. Eighty years ago, the grand struggle between justice and evil, light and darkness, progress and reaction teaches us that mutual respect, equality, peaceful development, and shared prosperity is the true way forward for humanity. By building a community with a shared future for mankind, China is showing what it means to uphold a correct WWII historical view and offering a Chinese model beyond zero-sum rivalry—pushing the international system toward justice and rationality. We must also remain alert that some right-wing politicians and scholars in Western countries continue to attempt to overturn historical truths, deny the immense sacrifices and contributions made by China and other countries. In this regard, we need to repeatedly promote a correct perspective on WWII that aligns with historical truths, countering the various lies and falsehoods propagated by those who seek to overturn the truth of our resistance efforts and WWII history.

We must uphold justice together and jointly safeguard the outcomes of WWII victory. One of the greatest achievements of the victory was the establishment of an international system with the United Nations at its core, which has played a central role in maintaining international peace and security, contributing significantly to global stability, development, and prosperity. Today, however, the authority and effectiveness of the international system are facing unprecedented challenges. Certain countries are undermining the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter by applying international law selectively and marginalizing U.N. member states—particularly the vast majority of developing countries—by denying them meaningful participation in global governance. These actions violate fundamental principles of international law, such as sovereign equality, and seriously erode the legitimacy and credibility of the international system. We must firmly uphold the U.N.’s central role and authoritative status in international affairs, consistently practice multilateralism, champion the rule of law in international relations, and remain committed to working together to promote global peace, stability, and shared prosperity.

We must reaffirm the indisputable historical fact that Taiwan has always been an inalienable part of China’s territory. Taiwan’s restoration to China is a victorious outcome of WWII and an integral part of the postwar international order. A series of instruments with legal effect under international law, including the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation, have all affirmed China’s sovereignty over Taiwan. The historical and legal facts therein brook no challenge. And the authority of U.N. General Assembly Resolution 2758 brooks no challenge. No matter how the situation on the Taiwan island evolves or what troubles external forces may make, the historical trend toward China’s ultimate and inevitable reunification is unstoppable.

As we commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, we are reminded that peace, justice, and development must never be taken for granted. The sacrifices of those who came before us compel us to protect the hard-won achievements of that struggle, uphold the international order founded on the U.N. Charter, and resist any attempt to distort historical truth or reverse the course of justice. China stands ready to work with all peace-loving countries, including Grenada, to safeguard the fruits of WWII victory, promote true multilateralism, and build a community with a shared future for mankind—where fairness, equality, and lasting peace prevail over division, confrontation, and power politics. Let us learn from history, stay true to our common values, and move forward together on the path of mutual respect, win-win cooperation, and global prosperity.