Saturday (the 13th) marks the 88th anniversary of the 1937 Nanjing Massacre and is also China’s 12th National Memorial Day for the Victims of the Nanjing Massacre. PLA Daily published a front-page commentary titled “Resolutely Defending the History Written with Blood and Lives.” The commentary states that the Nanjing Massacre was one of the “three major tragedies” of World War II and a very dark page in human history. Yet even today, there are some Japanese politicians who go against the tide of world opinion, denying the crimes of the Nanjing Massacre.
The commentary in PLA Daily states: Remembering the darkness is to call for light. On December 13, 1937, the Japanese army occupied Nanjing and committed the incomparably brutal Nanjing Massacre. This was one of the “three major tragedies” in the history of World War II, a shocking crime against humanity, and a very dark page in human history.
The commentary says, however, what remains alarming is that to this day, some Japanese politicians go against the trend of the world, denying the crimes of the Nanjing Massacre, seeking to break through the constraints of the “Peace Constitution,” recklessly expanding military armaments, greatly increasing defense budgets, accelerating revisions to security policy documents, easing restrictions on weapons exports, plotting to abandon the “Three Non-Nuclear Principles,” and even fantasizing about military intervention—seriously threatening regional peace and stability. This profoundly warns us that peace needs to be defended, and a strong military is needed to secure the country. We must develop the hard skills to fight and win wars, and resolutely strike back at those who seek to turn back the wheel of history.
“History is history, facts are facts. No one can change history or facts. The Chinese people, who have made tremendous sacrifices, will unwaveringly defend the history written with blood and life.”
The commentary continues: “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, as well as the 80th anniversary of Taiwan’s recovery. As revolutionary soldiers of the new era, we must always maintain a high state of vigilance, comprehensively improve our ability to prepare for and fight wars, and always be ready to fight for justice, for peace, and for the people, resolutely safeguarding national sovereignty, security, and development interests.”
In 2014, China enacted legislation designating December 13 as the National Memorial Day for the Victims of the Nanjing Massacre.