Confronting one's history is a highly political subject. The Chinese people’s victory in the anti-Japanese war was their first victory in the war against foreign aggression. The victory brought an end to an era in which China had been forced to cede territory and pay forfeits to foreign enemies. It was the start of China's defense of its centuries-old civilization which provided a solid foundation for the rejuvenation of the Chinese people. Reviewing history can reveal valuable lessons.

Patriotism made a substantial contribution to the anti-Japanese victory, so we should carry forward the anti-war spirit with patriotism as its core. The aggression against China launched by Japan brought the Chinese people to the verge of disaster, but aroused their awareness of crisis and sense of mission. Uniting the people of China, the national spirit was reinforced in the anti-Japanese war.

The Communist Party of China (CPC) shouldered the task of saving the country from its peril, and appealed for a united anti-Japanese front based on cooperation between the CPC and the Kuomintang (KMT). Under the umbrella of fighting against Japanese fascism, the CPC and the KMT worked together to counter Japanese aggression. China's war against fascism was inseparable from the wider international anti-fascist effort, and China made a great contribution to world peace.

History, like a mirror, can tell wrong from right. The Japanese government has consistently denied its history of aggression, harming relations between China and Japan. Moreover, the Japanese government advocates lifting the ban on self-collective defense, seriously undermining its international credibility.

The path of Japanese development is determined by its people. The Japanese government should respect the legitimate concerns of its neighboring countries. It is necessary to take history as a mirror and face up to historical realities.

The author is the deputy director of Japan Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Social Science.

The article is edited and translated from《正确认识历史就是捍卫和平》, source: People's Daily, author: Gao Hong