Strong Military Forum | Carry Forward the Spirit of the War of Resistance, Unite Strength to Build a Strong Military

Eighty-nine years ago today, the Marco Polo Bridge Incident erupted, marking the beginning of the entire Chinese nation's War of Resistance Against Japan. In recent days, military personnel and civilians across the country have commemorated the 89th anniversary of the outbreak of the War of Resistance in various forms. For officers and soldiers at large, remembering the history of the War of Resistance means, above all, carrying forward the spirit of the War of Resistance (抗战精神) and uniting strength to build and strengthen the military, contributing wisdom and strength to the comprehensive advancement of national rejuvenation and the great cause of national revitalization through Chinese-path modernization (中国式现代化).

The memory has never faded; history has never receded. On July 7, 1937, Japanese aggressors, driven by the criminal ambition to annex all of China by force, brazenly shelled Wanping City, manufacturing the Marco Polo Bridge Incident that shocked China and the world. Beiping and Tianjin were in crisis! North China was in crisis! The Chinese nation was in crisis! Confronted with an unprecedented existential threat to the nation and the people, on July 8 the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party issued the "Telegram of the Chinese Communist Party on the Japanese Military's Attack on the Marco Polo Bridge," calling upon: all compatriots throughout China, the government, and the military to unite and build a solid Great Wall of a national united front to resist the invasion of the Japanese aggressors. Actively promoted by the Chinese Communist Party, the Anti-Japanese National United Front (抗日民族统一战线) based on Kuomintang-Communist cooperation was formally established.

Chairman Xi has profoundly observed: "In the arduous War of Resistance Against Japan, all sons and daughters of China fought for the survival of the nation, for national rejuvenation, and for the justice of humanity. The breadth of social mobilization, the depth of national awakening, the tenacity of the will to fight, and the firmness of the conviction of certain victory all reached unprecedented heights." Confronted with the barbaric invasion of the Japanese aggressors, the sons and daughters of China rallied tightly under the banner of the Anti-Japanese National United Front advocated and established by the Chinese Communist Party. Countless patriotic officers and soldiers fought bloody battles; people from all walks of life were of one mind, demonstrating to the world the patriotic sentiment that every citizen bears responsibility for the rise and fall of the nation (天下兴亡、匹夫有责), the national integrity of facing death with equanimity and refusing to yield even unto death (视死如归、宁死不屈), the heroic spirit of fearing no brutality and fighting to the last drop of blood (不畏强暴、血战到底), and the unshakeable conviction of persevering through every setback (百折不挠、坚忍不拔). It was precisely under the firm leadership of the Chinese Communist Party, inspired by the great spirit of the War of Resistance, and through arduous and bloody struggle that the Chinese people utterly defeated the Japanese aggressors, achieved the great victory of the War of Resistance, and created "a marvel in the history of war, a heroic feat of the Chinese nation, and a momentous and earth-shaking achievement."

History is the best textbook and the best sobering agent. Commemorating the 89th anniversary of the outbreak of the War of Resistance means remembering history, safeguarding peace, and remaining vigilant against the resurgence of Japanese militarism. What is infuriating is that for a long time, Japan has not only failed to deeply reflect on its historical crimes and draw lessons from history, but has instead deliberately evaded and obscured its war responsibilities, continuously promoted an erroneous historical view of World War II, and distorted, denied, and even glorified its history of aggression and colonialism. However, history is history, and facts are facts. No one can ever change history and facts. In the face of ironclad evidence, any attempt to distort the history of World War II or glorify the war of aggression absolutely cannot succeed.

The War of Resistance Against Japan imparts to us a lesson written in blood and fire: a strong nation must have a strong military, and only with a strong military can the nation be secure. Without a powerful military, there can be no powerful nation. On the new journey, to prevent the historical tragedy from repeating itself and to prevent the process of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation from being interrupted, we must build a consolidated national defense and a powerful people's army commensurate with China's international standing and suited to the nation's security and development interests. As revolutionary soldiers of the new era, we must vigorously carry forward the great spirit of the War of Resistance, strengthen our sense of hardship awareness (忧患意识), crisis awareness (危机意识), and mission awareness (使命意识), reinforce our sense of responsibility and duty, unite strength in training for war and preparing for war, forge stronger capabilities and more reliable means, resolutely defend national sovereignty, security, and development interests, and effectively fulfill the mission tasks of the new era entrusted by the Party and the people.