By He Yin, People’s Daily
Sept. 3 marks the anniversary of victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. It is a day to remember a monumental victory, hear the echoes of history, and cherish the beacon of peace.
On Sept. 2, 1945, witnessed by representatives of the nine countries that had accepted Japan’s surrender, Japan signed the Instrument of Surrender.
China was the first major battlefield in the East to fight the war against Japanese aggression and remained at war for the longest period. After 14 years of heroic resistance and at the cost of more than 35 million Chinese casualties, the Chinese people defeated the Japanese militarist aggressors once and for all. China thus sustained the main theater of the World Anti-Fascist War in the East and made a major contribution to the overall victory.
On Sept. 3, 2025, China held a grand military parade to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.
Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a speech, sending a powerful message to the world of the times: China is firmly committed to upholding international fairness and justice.
His speech demonstrated China’s rock-solid conviction to work tirelessly for the well-being of all the people and rallied tremendous strength for building a community with a shared future for humanity.
The grand and imposing ceremony, and the glory of victory enshrined in the annals of history, sent a clear message of the Chinese people’s sincere aspiration for peace and their hope that countries around the world will work together to advance common progress.
Commemorating victory is not about perpetuating hatred, but about rekindling people’s yearning for and commitment to peace.
History has repeatedly shown that humanity rises and falls together. Only when all countries and nations treat each other as equals, coexist in peace, and support each other, can we uphold common security, eradicate the root cause of war, and prevent the recurrence of historical tragedies.
Today, as profound changes unseen in a century accelerate across the world, humanity has once again reached a crossroads. International conflicts and hotspots continue to flare, while dialogue and confrontation, win-win cooperation and zero-sum competition, and multilateralism and unilateralism are engaged in intense contest. The world’s longing for peace and stability has never been stronger.
In such turbulent and transformative times, it is all the more important to stand firmly on the right side of history — to uphold the outcomes of World War II and the postwar international order, abide by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, to practice true multilateralism, and to work together to safeguard the hard-won peace.
Commemorating victory also means upholding the common values of humanity and jointly defending international fairness and justice, so that righteousness prevails and the world is filled with peace and justice.
The great victory of the World Anti-Fascist War laid a solid foundation for the establishment of the postwar international order. Upholding that order is essential to peace in Asia and indeed to peace worldwide.
Today, Japan’s right-wing forces still refuse to fully acknowledge the history of Japanese aggression during World War II. Their efforts to accelerate the removal of military restraints and deliberately downplay and conceal Japan’s responsibility for its wartime aggression have increasingly aroused strong vigilance and deep concern among its Asian neighbors and the international community.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the opening of the Tokyo Trial. As an important component of the postwar international order, the Tokyo Trial, together with international legal documents such as the Cairo Declaration, the Potsdam Proclamation and the Instrument of Surrender, constitutes the legal foundation of the postwar order in the Asia-Pacific. Its justice and authority must not be doubted or challenged.
Only by genuinely facing up to history, deeply reflecting on its responsibility for aggression, thoroughly eliminating the remnants of militarism, and staying firmly on the path of peaceful development can Japan truly win the trust and acceptance of its Asian neighbors and the international community.
The anniversary is an occasion to remember history, honor fallen heroes, cherish peace, and create a better future.
This year marks the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China and the first year of the 15th Five-Year Plan period. Today’s China is a country of peace and development, a country of openness and progress, and a country moving from great victory toward great rejuvenation.
Chinese modernization is the modernization of peaceful development. China will always be a force for peace, stability and progress in the world. China will firmly stand on the right side of history and the progress of human civilization. It will remain committed to the path of peaceful development, join hands with all peoples around the world in building a community with a shared future for humanity, and work together to create a better future for all.
