The Chinese people have been commemorating the victory of the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression in various ways, which has contributed to remembering history as well as shaping the future.
 

Japan has not adopted the correct attitude necessary to resolve leftover problems relating to the war. Issues such as the nature of the war, the legitimacy of the Tokyo Trials, Diaoyu Islands, the Nanjing Massacre, comfort women and abandoned chemical and biological weapons are all issues that have not been properly addressed. In recent years, Japan has engaged in aggressive rhetoric, exemplified by visits to the Yasukuni Shrine and attempts to extend its sphere of influence, due to the increasing strength of its conservative forces and the resurgence of militarist forces.
 

On Sep. 9, 2012, heedless of China’s repeated solemn representations, Japan ultimately passed a resolution at a cabinet meeting to “purchase” the Diaoyu Island, the North Islet and the South Islet using 2.05 billion yen ($0.016 billion) from the 2012 annual state budget, unilaterally “nationalizing” the three islands. In July 2014, Japan lifted the ban on the right to collective self-defense through a resolution. In July 2015, Japan’s House of Representatives pushed through a New Security Bill. These behaviors have greatly hurt Asian countries that once suffered from Japanese aggression and intensified their distrust of Japan.
 

After the victory in the war, China experienced a new civil war, changed the state regime and established a socialist society, creating superior political conditions for its later development. Up to this day, with increased economic globalization and multipolar geopolitics, China is committed to its national rejuvenation amid reform and opening-up, and participating in global competition and cooperation with a positive attitude.
 

A peaceful environment is urgently needed by Asian countries, including China, in the process of their self-development. China is adopting various methods, such as commemorative activities with countries that love peace to convey historical messages to the world, resist Japanese conservative forces and militarism trend, and forge a peaceful environment.
 

The War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression was both a competition of military and economic strength and a competition of will and spirit between China and Japan. The Chinese nation not only defeated Japan but also developed a strong national spirit after the war, which was built from patriotism, unity, dedication and persistence. Based on such a spirit, the Chinese people achieved total victory, with the Communist Party of China playing a crucial role in the war.
 

Nowadays, both a sense of mission and spiritual impetus are needed in the construction of China’s socialist modernization. The great and immortal spirit of the war of resistance is undoubtedly an important component of our strong spiritual impetus. The elements of this spirit will be constantly enriched in the practice of social construction.
 

Currently, studies and teaching on the war of resistance in some realms may not be clear enough. People cannot comprehensively know about the history of the war, or sometimes they just retain this knowledge at the perceptual stage. In contrast to this, commemorative activities for the war have presented rich perspectives and content, in terms of the military war and political situation, which have provided extensive materials for studies and teaching on the history of the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression.
 

Amid or after commemorative activities, the country, society or individuals will seek historic traces and search for historical materials. This is inevitably beneficial to relevant commemorations, studies and teaching. Researchers are able to utilize newly obtained materials in studies on the history of the war to enrich the content and promote their own qualities. Similarly, teachers can integrate newly acquired knowledge of the war into their teaching process, making students learn more about the war and adhere to right political direction. These all result from commemorative activities for the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression.

 

Lai Jinian is from the School of Marxism at Zhejiang Sci-Tech University.