Consul General Yang Yundong’s Speech at the Symposium Commemorating the 80th Anniversary of the Victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War at the Chinese Consulate Karachi
Aslam-O-Alekum, Good afternoon everyone! 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. 80 years ago, as a member of the Anti-fascist Alliance, China fought shoulder to shoulder with the global anti-fascist forces, united in courageous battles against their common foes. With immense sacrifices and indomitable will, we ultimately defeated fascism, ushering in a new era in human history.
China stood as a pillar in the main Eastern theater in the global anti-fascist war. When talking about the World Anti-Fascist War, people’s attention often centers on the indispensable victories of the Allied forces in Normandy and the Pacific. However, one fact that must never be overlooked is that China, as the main Eastern theatre, waged an unwavering 14-year fight and made the sacrifices of tens of millions of soldiers and civilians, bearing half the burden of the global anti-fascist struggle. The Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression lasted for 14 years, from the “September 18th Incident” in 1931 to Japan’s surrender in September 1945. China’s resistance was the first to ignite and last to extinguish. For over a decade preceding the Pearl Harbor attack by Japan, China faced the Japanese militarist aggressors virtually all by itself. Throughout this protracted war, China paid an unprecedentedly heavy price, with total military and civilian casualties exceeding 35 million. Japanese invaders committed countless atrocities in China – burning, killing, looting, raping and all kinds of evils. To cite just one example: in December 1937, after capturing Nanjing, the then capital of China, the Japanese invaders carried out a horrific massacre that lasted over 40 days, during which 300,000 unarmed civilians and disarmed Chinese soldiers were brutally slaughtered. Over the course of these arduous 14 years of war, the Chinese people, through bloodshed and relentless struggle, completely shattered Japan’s arrogant plan to “conquer China within three months”. The Chinese theatre tied down and exhausted the main forces of the Japanese Army for a prolonged period, playing a decisive role in the ultimate defeat of Japanese aggression, and making an indelible historical contribution to the final victory of the global anti-fascist war. In 1942, the then President of the United States, Franklin D. Roosevelt once said: “If there were no China, the Japanese could have immediately taken Australia, India, and charged straight into the Middle East to join forces with Germany.”
In this great struggle, the Communist Party of China (CPC) played a pivotal and leading role. With strong political leadership, the Communist Party of China united and rallied the forces of the entire nation of China in the War of Resistance, fostered the establishment of the National United Front, and formulated practical strategies and an effective roadmap to the final victory. The CPC shouldered, with unwavering resolve, the historic responsibility of saving the nation from peril.
China is a stabilizing force in safeguarding the current international order. Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, China has always been a builder of world peace and a guardian of the international order. From advocating the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence in 1954 to becoming one of the major troop-contributing countries for UN peacekeeping operations; from promoting political solutions to hot-button issues, such as the North Korea nuclear issue and the Iran nuclear issue, to proposing the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative; from joining multiple international arms control treaties to implementing a policy of no-first-use of nuclear weapons, China has demonstrated its commitment to peaceful development through concrete actions. As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China has deployed over 50,000 peacekeeping personnel to participate in nearly 30 UN peacekeeping missions, setting a fine example in strengthening the UN’s leading role in international security and promoting peaceful dispute resolution. Standing at a new Chapter of history, China will continue to uphold the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, contributing wisdom and strength to building a community with a shared future for mankind.
The China-Pakistan relationship serves as a key driver for regional peace and development. Under the strategic guidance of the leaders of our countries and the joint efforts of the two peoples, our bilateral relationship maintained sound and robust momentum of development. China firmly supports Pakistan in safeguarding its national sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity, in resolutely combating terrorism, and in playing a greater role in international and regional affairs. On issues related to regional peace and stability, the two countries agree that outstanding disputes, including the Kashmir issue, should be properly resolved through peaceful means in accordance with the UN Charter, relevant UN Security Council resolutions and bilateral agreements. On issues related to regional development and prosperity, the two sides uphold multilateralism and free trade, reject exclusive “cliques” and bloc confrontation, and actively implement the Global Development Initiative. By advancing high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and upgrading the CPEC, we aim not only to achieve our own development but also to contribute to a prosperous South Asia.
Ladies and gentlemen, friends,
Last week, Pakistan proudly celebrated its 78th Independence Day, while the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression stands as an enduring monument to China’s pursuit of national independence. Shared historical destinies have closely bonded our two nations and peoples. Pakistan’s founding father, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, repeatedly condemned Japan’s atrocities in China and firmly supported China’s resistance. As key transit points on “the Hump”, airports in Peshawar, Karachi provided critical support for transporting strategic supplies to China. Pakistani laborers and logistics personnel worked tirelessly to build roads for aid supplies, establishing a vital land lifeline in support of China’s War of Resistance. The selfless assistance of the Pakistani people reflects your deep friendship with the Chinese people and embodies the great unity of the international anti-fascist united front.
Ladies and gentlemen, friends,
80 years ago, Japan was defeated, accepted the Potsdam Proclamation and announced its unconditional surrender. The war of aggression waged by Japanese militarists at that time inflicted catastrophes on the people of China and other Asian countries. A series of international documents, including the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation, clearly defined Japan’s responsibility for the war and required that Japan return all the territories it had stolen from China, including Taiwan. This is an indisputable outcome of the victory in the World Anti-Fascist War and constitutes an important part of the post-war international order. Yet till today, certain forces in Japan are still trying to whitewash or deny the aggression, distort or falsify history, and even honor the war criminals and justify their crimes. Such despicable and disgraceful actions bring shame upon themselves, and challenge the United Nations Charter, the post-war international order, human conscience, and all the people of the victorious countries. Only by facing up to history can respect be earned; only by drawing lessons from history can a future be forged; only by remembering the past can straying onto the wrong path again be avoided.
Today, We hold commemorative activities not to perpetuate hatred, but to honor history, to draw lessons from the past, and to look toward the future, to cherish and safeguard peace. Mr. Muhammad Ali Jinnah once said, “We are not afraid of the deep sea or fire, because we believe in the sun and future”, while Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized that the most valuable lesson from the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War is the unwavering commitment to the path of peaceful development.
Today, the world is witnessing an accelerating transformation unseen in a century. Unilateralism, protectionism, and hegemonism are on the rise, making global unity and cooperation more essential than ever before. As important members of the Global South, China and Pakistan must work hand in hand to uphold the international system with the UN at its core and the international order based on international law. Let us jointly promote a multi-polar world that is equal and orderly, as well as an inclusive economic globalization that benefits all. Together, we will and we can advance the noble cause of peace and development for humanity!
Long live China-Pakistan friendship! Long live world peace!
Thank you?
The post Consul General Yang Yundong’s Speech at the Symposium Commemorating the 80th Anniversary appeared first on The Financial Daily.
