On September 11, Ambassador Yang Xiaokun published a signed article titled “Upholding A Correct Historical Perspective on the World Anti-Fascist War, Make Our Contributions to the Community with a Shared Future for Humanity” on the Post. Here's the full text.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. The World Anti-Fascist War, also known as World War II was the most devastating and destructive global conflict in human history. It brought immense suffering to the peoples of the world and reshaped the global political landscape. The victory over fascism was the result of the united efforts of the Allies. Both Lesotho and China have contributed to the victory.

80 years later, the world has found itself in a new period of turbulence and transformation. Upholding a correct historical perspective on the World Anti-Fascist War is not only about safeguarding historical truth, but also about preserving global peace and justice and preventing the recurrence of historical tragedies. To this end, we should focus on the following key points:

I. To uphold a correct historical perspective on the World Anti-Fascist War, we should recognize China's Contribution to the Victory of the war.

A correct historical perspective is fundamentally rooted in an uncompromising respect for indisputable facts. China has been the first country to fight the Fascist aggressor since September 18,1931, experienced the longest period of struggle for 14 years, and suffered great sacrifices and heavy losses for over 35 million military and civilian casualties, the direct economic losses exceeded 100 billion US dollars. China is one of the countries with the most sacrifices among Allies. The China theater created crucial strategic space for the Allied forces by firmly pinning down over 70 percent of the Japanese army, completely broke the attempt of the Axis powers—Germany, Japan, and Italy—to occupy Australia and India, meet in the Middle East and carve up the world. China made crucial and indispensable contribution to the victory of Allies against Fascist. The unconditional surrender of Japan marked the complete victory of the World Anti-Fascist War, which is a major turning point in the course of world history.

The Chinese people thoroughly defeated the Japanese militarist aggressors under a national united front against Japanese aggression advocated by the Communist Party of China (CPC). The CPC led the Chinese nation to achieve the victory and form the great spirit of the war of resistance, which embodies the patriotism that inspires the individual to work for the wellbeing of the country, the dauntless national character that prepares to sacrifice oneself for the greater good, the heroic valor that nurtures a national will to confront brute force and fight to the last, and the great perseverance and an unfailing belief in victory.

Acknowledging China's contributions and specifically the CPC's role is essential to understanding the true history of the World Anti-Fascist War. Any attempt to downplay or distort China’s role in the war is a betrayal of historical truth and must be firmly rejected.

II. To uphold a correct historical perspective on the World Anti-Fascist War, we need to have a comprehensive understanding of the outcomes of the war.

The victory of the World Anti-Fascist War was not only the triumph of justice over evil and civilization over barbarity, but also of profound historical necessity and progress. It ended the grave threat of militarism and fascism to world peace, safeguarded humanity’s pursuit of fairness and justice, and accelerated the collapse of colonialism. The tide of national liberation surged across the globe, and Africa’s decolonization movements gained strong momentum. Lesotho’s eventual independence was itself one of the fruits of this historic victory.

One of the most important outcomes of the war was the post-war international order, which contains the international system with the U.N. at its core, and the international order underpinned by international law, was established based on the outcomes of the war and the lessons learned from its devastation. This order respects norms such as mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, noninterference in each other’s internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence. They are the principles that underpin international peace and security.

The outcomes of the World Anti-Fascist War encompassed Taiwan’s recovery from Japanese occupation. Taiwan’s return to China forms a vital part of the post-war international order. Both the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation, issued by major victorious nations of World War II, stated in explicit terms that Taiwan is a territory that Japan had stolen from the Chinese, and shall be restored to China. Japan also accepted the terms of the Potsdam Proclamation and announced its unconditional surrender. All these have confirmed China’s sovereignty over Taiwan and formed an important part of the post-war international order. Resolution 2758 was later adopted in 1971 by the U.N. General Assembly with an overwhelming majority. It decides to restore all the lawful rights of the People’s Republic of China at the U.N. and all the organizations related to it. Once and for all, this resolution resolved the issue of the representation of the whole of China, including Taiwan, in the U.N., and precluded any possibility of creating “two Chinas” or “one China, one Taiwan.”

III. To uphold a correct historical perspective on the World Anti-Fascist War, we must uphold peace, justice and multilateralism to prevent the recurrence of historical tragedies.

The experience of the World Anti-Fascist War shows clearly that only by upholding international fairness and justice can we consolidate the foundation of world peace. The war did not break out overnight; it was the result of deliberate aggression by a few powers that violated other countries’ sovereignty and pursued hegemonic ambitions at the expense of global peace.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has emphasized: “History cautions us that we must remain unwavering in our conviction in justice, unyielding in our commitment to peace, and unshakable in our confidence in the insurmountable strength of the people.” “We humans all share the same planet. We must pull together in solidarity and harmony, and ensure that the law of the jungle never makes a comeback. At all times, we must always commit to the path of peaceful development, stay resolved to safeguard global peace and tranquility, and work together to build a community with a shared future for humanity.” In this context, President Xi has put forward the vision of a community with a shared future for humanity, as well as promoting high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, the Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative, Global Civilization Initiative and Global Governance Initiative.

The Global Governance Initiative offers China’s proposals for reforming and improving global governance. Staying committed to sovereign equality, international rule of law, multilateralism, the people-centered approach, and real results are “five core concepts” of the initiative. They stem from the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter, and respond to the shared aspiration of most countries. To reform and improve global governance does not mean to overturn the existing international order or to create another framework outside the current international system. Rather, the goal is to make the existing international system and international institutions better at taking actions, working effectively, adapting to changes, responding promptly and effectively to various global challenges, and serving the interests of all countries, particularly developing ones. 

No matter how the international landscape changes, China will remain firm in safeguarding the international system with the U.N. at its core and the international order underpinned by international law, stand firmly on the right side of history, and join hands with all progressive forces in the world to build a community with a shared future for humanity and make relentless efforts for mankind’s noble cause of peace and development.

History is a mirror that illuminates the future. The tears and triumphs of the World Anti-Fascist War form both the bedrock of humanity's collective memory and a beacon guiding future peace. Upholding a correct historical perspective on the World Anti-Fascist War aims not to perpetuate animosity, but to take it as a warning and draw positive wisdom and strength from it.

On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, China is willing to unite more closely with our friends in Lesotho. Together, we will build a community with a shared future for humanity, stand as defenders of world peace, builders of common security, and champions of multilateralism, and make our contributions to the community with a shared future for humanity.