Time to 'thank' friends who told China's story of resistance

The contributions made by international individuals to aid and tell the true and objective stories during the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression (1931-1945) to the world should be honored and commemorated and their efforts have helped to make victory possible, participants of a symposium said.

China's just war, which was a crucial element of the World Anti-Fascist War, has earned the respect of the international community over the decades. Friends from all over the world supported China in various ways during the war, strengthening resistance efforts and bolstering the confidence of the Chinese people in their fight, Wang Gang, vice-minister of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said during an international communication symposium on promoting the great spirit of the war and effectively presenting the story of China in the new era.

"We need to especially thank those international friends who, more than 80 years ago, braved gunfire to spread the true stories of China's suffering and resistance to the world," Wang said at the symposium which was held in Peking University on Saturday.

The contributions of these international friends went beyond simply making the world aware of events in China, he said, they helped the world to understand China. In an era when China was misunderstood and belittled, they let the world see that it was a nation resisting invasion with flesh and blood, Wang said.

"At a time when many Western media outlets depicted China's war as a 'tragedy', they stood up and said, 'This is not a tragedy. It's resistance. It's the vitality of an ancient nation bursting forth in the face of adversity'.

"This understanding allowed China to be seen on the international stage, not as a passive supplicant, but as a companion fighting alongside others," he added.

Eric Foster, nephew of renowned Western journalists Helen Foster Snow and Edgar Snow, said history should be remembered and honored. If we don't learn from history, the future is going to repeat itself, he said.

"The acknowledgment of what took place and how the Chinese people suffered from the aggression is very important. And more people should be aware of it," Foster added.

In his 1937 book "Red Star Over China", Edgar Snow offered a vivid and compelling portrayal of the once "mysterious" CPC, demonstrating how it led China's revolution and brought dignity and equality to the people.

Foster said he only became aware of the Nanjing Massacre when he came to China for the first time in 2010. All people in the United States hear about is the Holocaust in Europe, they don't hear anything about the holocaust in Asia and Nanjing, he added.

"Also, it's sad to see that there are still some people in Japan who try to deny that the Nanjing Massacre ever happened. Even though there's so many eyewitnesses and so much documentation from the soldiers themselves that they committed these atrocities. They are just pretending to be blind."

Michael Crook, son of British communist David Crook, said "Red Star Over China" was the reason his father came to China.

"It's important to remember history and celebrate victory, so I am looking forward to seeing the upcoming military parade," Crook said.

Japan recently reportedly urged other Asian and European countries to refrain from attending Wednesday's military parade and associated events in Beijing that are being held to mark the 80th anniversary of victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

"People should understand that it's a move from the Japanese government, but I believe most Japanese people are peace-loving and against fascism," he added.

Remembering history isn't about dwelling on historical grievances but about reminding the world that the victory in the World Anti-Fascist War was a victory for all humanity, Wang Gang said. Every nation and people who fought valiantly deserve to be remembered and any attempt to erase the contributions of other countries is a betrayal of history and a desecration of those who made sacrifices.

"Today's China still faces many growing pains, and we have no intention of applying a perfect filter to the Chinese story," he added.

"The world is connected not by perfection but by authenticity. True confidence lies in the willingness to show imperfections. We sincerely welcome international friends to present the real details of our development from an objective perspective, allowing the world to see a more vivid and multidimensional China."