China's planned memorial days respect history, uphold peace

BEIJING - China is mulling setting two memorial days concerning conflict with Japan to pray that never again will evil prevail, as militarism did for millions of innocent victims in the 1930s and 1940s.

September 3 has been proposed as the day to commemorate China's victory in the war against Japanese invasion and December 13 as the national memorial day for more than 300,000 Chinese killed by Japanese aggressors during the 1937 Nanjing Massacre, according to two draft decisions submitted for review at the ongoing bi-monthly session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.

Those publicizing the so-called "rise of Chinese nationalism" seem to find new evidence for their fear. But, again, they are wrong.

Solidly based on historical facts, establishing these two occasions has nothing to do with taking revenge or venting national anger, but is aimed at ringing alarm bells against Japanese militarism, sustaining the victory of human light over darkness and safeguarding international justice.

Domestically, the two days will remind people, especially young men and women, that we should keep history firmly in mind, never forget the past, cherish peace and create a better future.

The cold statistics speak for themselves. Japanese invaders battling Chinese forces captured Nanjing, then China's capital, in late 1937 and started a massacre from December 13. More than 300,000 Chinese people lost their lives during 40 days when their houses were set on fire, stores looted, women raped and remains abandoned.

The atrocities committed by Japanese troops, as confirmed by the International Military Tribunal for the Far East, will not sink into the dark hole of history.

Fourteen years of arduous fight by the Chinese resulted in the Japanese government's unconditional surrender in 1945. This was China's first complete victory over continuous foreign invasions in modern history. The war against Japanese aggression was also an essential part of the world war against fascists.

As a peace-loving nation, China commemorates the innocent dead not to inspire national hatred, but to express its stance of combating aggression and safeguarding human dignity and world peace.

China celebrates its victory not to parade its strength, but to ensure the offspring of the dead are protected from atrocities and justice will never be overturned.

To the shame of human beings, there remain some who learned nothing from history and even deny it. While the defeated countries of World War II such as Germany have faced up squarely to the past, made sincere apologies and renounced militarism, Japan is choosing an option on which the international community should remain on high alert.

By beautifying fascist aggression and allowing militarism to rise, the current Japanese leaders seem determined to lead Japan on to a perilous path, one doomed to fail.

China remembers the Nanjing Massacre, so will the world. The carnage committed on one nation is a scar on humanity and a threat against all others.

Chinese salutes the bravery of their forefathers who fought for national liberation and world peace, so will the world. A victory secured by their lives and those of international friends brooks no damage nor denial.

Gone are the days when a weak China fell under the aggression of the evil. Having suffered the flames of war, a united and strong China stands ready to work with all the just force to maintain the post-war peace order.