By: Ambassador Wang Qing on the 80th Anniversary of the Victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War
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, as well as the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. World War II was an unprecedented catastrophe in human history, inflicting immense suffering on all of humanity. Born out of profound reflection on this tragedy, the United Nations was established, laying the foundation for long-term global peace and the sustainable development of human civilization. Today, as we commemorate both anniversaries, we do so to remember history and jointly embrace the future, working together for lasting peace and sustainable development of the world.
We must always remember the lessons of war and cherish peace. War is a mirror that allows us to better appreciate the value of peace. Although the world has avoided another world war in the past 80 years, it has not been free of conflict. The Ukraine Crisis and the conflict between Iran and Israel have sounded the alarm once again: the obsession with power status, the frequent resort to force, and the pursuit of absolute security at the expense of others’ security inevitably lead to insecurity and heightened risks of war. Peace is like sunshine – easily taken for granted, but hard to survive without. The painful lessons of WWII remain fresh. Hegemonic acts of superiority and the law of the jungle where the strong prey on the weak must never be allowed to resurface.
We must uphold a correct historical perspective on WWII. Historical justice rests upon defending and remembering the truth. WWII was a war of aggression launched by the fascist bloc of Germany, Italy, and Japan in their quest for global domination. It engulfed five continents, drawing in over 80 countries and regions. China, at the horrific cost of 35 million military and civilian casualties, resisted Japanese militarist aggression tenaciously for 14 arduous years. Holding back Japan’s main overseas forces on the major Eastern theater of WWII, China made tremendous sacrifices and immense contributions to the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War. Learning from history and facing the future requires us to reject all erroneous words and deeds that distort, glorify, or deny the history of aggression and jointly safeguard historical truth to avoid repeating past tragedies.
We must safeguard the post-war international order. The international system centered on the U.N. is the concentrated embodiment of the outcomes of the WWII victory and has supported 80 years of global stability and prosperity. It is especially important to remember that 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 fact therein brooks no challenge. Today, 80 years later, the U.N. is facing unprecedented challenges. Self-first policy, unilateralism, power politics and bullying are eroding the fundamental norms of international relations. Facing a turbulent and complex international situation, we must firmly uphold the U.N.-centered international system, the international order underpinned by international law, and the basic norms of international relations based on the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter, and jointly practice true multilateralism.
We must improve global governance. Building a better world requires better global governance. As the balance of international forces shifts and global challenges multiply, we must enhance the representativeness, inclusiveness, and effectiveness of global governance, steering it toward greater justice and equity. China’s proposal to build a community with a shared future for mankind aims to encourage countries with different social systems, ideologies, histories, cultures, and development levels to share interests, rights, and responsibilities in international affairs, and build the broadest common ground for jointly building a better world. China advocates for equal and orderly multipolarity, ensuring that all countries, regardless of size or strength, can participate equally in the multipolarization process, enjoy their rights, and play their roles. We cannot allow one or few major powers to monopolize international affairs. We cannot allow countries to be categorized into different ranks based on so-called power status. We cannot allow a situation where some countries are at the table while others are on the menu.
The victory of the World Anti-Fascist War profoundly altered the historical trajectory of Africa and ushered in a new era of China-Africa solidarity and cooperation. Last year’s Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Beijing Summit elevated the China-Africa relations to an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era. China firmly supports Africa in playing a greater role on the international stage, correcting historical injustices, and increasing Africa’s representation and voice in the multilateral governance system. As a good friend, partner, and brother with a shared future, China is committed to working with African countries, including Sierra Leone, to jointly follow a path of peaceful development, mutually beneficial cooperation, and shared prosperity towards modernization. Together, we will elevate China-Sierra Leone relations and China-Africa relations to new heights, promote a more just and equitable international order and system, advance the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, and better benefit people across the world and our future generations.