The Contributions of the Eastern Theater Deserve a Fair Appraisal

Years ago, I had the honor of visiting China with several renowned experts on China studies and touring the Chinese People’s Resistance Against Japanese Aggression Memorial Hall in Wanping City, Lugou Bridge, Fengtai District, Beijing. It is the only large-scale comprehensive memorial hall in China that fully reflects the history of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. The hall displays a large number of precious historical photographs and artifacts from the period of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, from the September 18 Incident[1]1 The September 18 Incident, also known as the Mukden Incident (1931), was a staged explosion on a Japanese-owned railway by Japanese troops as a pretext to invade Northeast China. in 1931 to 1945, especially historical documents, evidence and testimonies that vividly depict the entire process of the Chinese people resisting the Japanese fascist invasion. In 1931, the Japanese Kwantung Army[2]2 The Kwantung Army was the Japanese army group stationed in the Kwantung Leased Territory and later throughout Northeast China, responsible for the invasion. stationed in Northeast China blew up a section of the South Manchuria Railway near Liutiao Lake in Shenyang, then falsely accused the Chinese military of being the perpetrators of this act, using it as a pretext to invade and occupy the Northeast region and establish the puppet state of Manchukuo[3]3 Manchukuo was a puppet state established by Japan in Northeast China from 1932 to 1945.. This marked the beginning of Japan’s 14-year colonial rule over Northeast China.

多年前，我有幸与多位知名中国问题研究专家一同访问中国，并参观了位于北京市丰台区卢沟桥宛平城的中国人民抗日战争纪念馆，它是中国唯一一座全面反映中国人民抗日战争历史的大型综合性纪念馆。馆内陈列了大量从1931年九一八事变到1945年抗日战争时期具有珍贵历史价值的照片与文物，尤其是那些生动展现中国人民反抗日本法西斯入侵全过程的历史文献、证据与证言。1931年，驻扎在中国东北的日本关东军炸毁了沈阳柳条湖附近的南满铁路路轨，却反诬中国军队是这一罪行的始作俑者，以此为借口侵占了东北地区，并建立了伪满洲国傀儡政权，标志着日本对中国东北地区实行长达14年殖民统治的开始。

In 1937, the July 7 Incident[4]4 The July 7 Incident (Marco Polo Bridge Incident) in 1937 was a clash between Chinese and Japanese troops near Beijing that triggered the full-scale Sino-Japanese War. (Marco Polo Bridge Incident) broke out, marking the start of the Chinese nation’s full-scale war of resistance. China’s War of Resistance became an important part of the World Anti-Fascist War. The root of the war lay in Japan’s decades-long imperialist expansion policy, which satisfied Japan’s aggressive ambitions at the expense of neighboring countries such as China. Since the early 20th century, ultranationalism rose in Japan, and this trend of thought promoted the fascist military faction’s seizure of power, which then launched and drove the war of aggression against China. During the War of Resistance, China suffered disasters such as the Nanjing Massacre[5]5 The Nanjing Massacre refers to the mass murder and rape of Chinese civilians and disarmed soldiers by the Japanese Imperial Army after the fall of Nanjing in December 1937., the atrocities of the Japanese Army Unit 731[6]6 Unit 731 was a Japanese biological and chemical warfare research unit that conducted lethal human experiments during WWII., and the floods caused by the Huayuankou dike breach[7]7 The Huayuankou dike breach was the deliberate destruction of the Yellow River dikes by the Chinese Nationalist government in June 1938 to halt the Japanese advance, causing massive floods and civilian deaths., resulting in heavy casualties among Chinese civilians. To curb Japanese aggression, China appealed to the League of Nations. After investigation, the League issued the Lytton Report[8]8 The Lytton Report was a 1932 League of Nations investigation report that condemned Japan’s aggression in Manchuria but failed to impose sanctions., which condemned Japan’s invasion of Northeast China, whereupon Japan withdrew from the League. Apart from these powerless condemnations, countries around the world took no substantive action against Japan.

1937年七七事变爆发，中国全民族抗战由此开启。中国抗战成为世界反法西斯战争的重要组成部分。战争的根源在于日本数十年的帝国主义扩张政策，该政策以牺牲中国等邻国利益为代价，以满足日本的侵略野心。自20世纪初，极端民族主义在日本兴起，这一思潮推动了法西斯军事派别的掌权，进而发动并推动了侵华战争。在抗日战争期间，中国遭受了南京大屠杀、侵华日军731部队的暴行以及花园口决堤引发的洪水等灾难，导致大量中国平民伤亡。为了遏制日本的侵略，中国向国际联盟求助。国联在调查后发布了《李顿报告书》，谴责日本侵略中国东北的行为，随后日本退出国联。除无力的谴责外，世界各国并未对日本采取实质性的行动。

On July 26, 1945, the United States, Britain and China jointly issued the Potsdam Proclamation[9]9 The Potsdam Proclamation was a declaration issued by the United States, Britain, and China on July 26, 1945, calling for Japan’s unconditional surrender., urging Japan’s unconditional surrender. On August 15, 1945, Japan announced its unconditional surrender and formally signed the instrument of surrender on September 2. China then declared victory in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, marking the end of a 14-year war that caused over 35 million military and civilian casualties. Japan’s fascist military aggression against China is undoubtedly one of the most brutal and bloody chapters in human history. Today, an increasing number of international scholars are regarding the September 18 Incident as the start of World War II in the Eastern theater. The Chinese people were brave and steadfast in the 14-year War of Resistance, making irreplaceable contributions to the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War. On a personal level, I most admire China’s achievements and its contributions as the Eastern main battlefield in the World Anti-Fascist War.

1945年7月26日，美国、英国和中国联合发表《波茨坦公告》，敦促日本无条件投降。1945年8月15日，日本宣布无条件投降，并于9月2日正式签署投降书，中国随之宣布抗日战争胜利，这标志着历经14年、造成3500余万军民伤亡的抗战终告结束。日本对中国发动法西斯式的军事侵略，无疑是人类历史上最为野蛮、最为血腥的篇章之一。如今，越来越多的国际学者正将九一八事变视为第二次世界大战在东方战场的开端。中国人民在十四年抗战中英勇无畏、坚定不移，为世界反法西斯战争的胜利作出了不可替代的贡献。就个人层面而言，我对中国所取得的成就以及其在世界反法西斯战争中东方主战场的贡献最为钦佩。

However, there exist in the international community discourses that deliberately ignore the tremendous contributions of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression in the World Anti-Fascist War, leading to the rampant spread of fallacies that distort the history of WWII. Japanese history textbooks also play down, distort, or even delete the history of Japan’s invasion of China, attempting to cover up the brutal crimes it committed against China and its people. Such acts have greatly angered the people of the world and the Chinese people.

然而，国际社会中却存在有意忽视中国人民抗日战争在世界反法西斯战争中的巨大贡献的论调，致使歪曲二战历史的谬论大肆流行。日本的历史教科书也对日本侵华历史进行淡化、歪曲甚至删除，企图掩盖其对中国及其人民所犯下的残暴罪行。此类行径极大地激怒了世界人民和中国人民。

The China theater, as the Eastern main battlefield, made tremendous contributions to fighting fascist aggression. Yet compared with the United States, Britain, and even the Soviet Union, China has received relatively less international recognition. In fact, China’s contributions and sacrifices in WWII were enormous, in some respects exceeding those of the United States, Britain and other Western countries and their allies. However, these countries often use the fruits of war for their own interests while turning a blind eye to China’s efforts in the war. Therefore, Chinese scholars bear the important responsibility of restoring China’s true contributions in WWII and breaking out of the American-Western ideological narrative framework. Because there has always been a one-sided and erroneous perception of China’s important pioneering role and due rights in the Allied victory over the Axis powers, which needs to be re-examined and fairly appraised.

中国战场作为东方主战场，为抗击法西斯侵略作出了巨大贡献，然而，相较于美国、英国乃至苏联，中国所获得的国际认可相对较少。实际上，中国在二战中的贡献和牺牲是巨大的，在某些方面超过了美国、英国等西方国家及其盟友。然而，这些国家常常利用战争成果谋取私利，对中国在战争中的付出视而不见。因此，中国学者肩负着重要责任，即还原中国在二战中的真实贡献，跳出美西方的意识形态叙事框架。因为对中国在同盟国战胜轴心国过程中所具有的重要开创性角色及应有权利，一直存在片面的错误认知，需要被重新审视和公正评价。

In May 2025, during his state visit to Russia and attendance at the ceremony commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Soviet Union’s Great Patriotic War[10]10 The Great Patriotic War is the Soviet term for the war between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany from 1941 to 1945, part of World War II., President Xi Jinping emphasized the need to “uphold the correct historical view of WWII” and “jointly promote the correct historical view of WWII.” As China studies scholars and experts globally, we bear another key mission: to resist fallacies that distort the history of WWII, defend the respect China deserves, and enable the world to clearly and profoundly recognize that in World War II, China fought side by side with Western countries against the fascist Axis powers, making indelible and tremendous contributions to Japan’s eventual defeat, and playing a more important role on the international stage.

2025年5月，习近平主席在对俄罗斯进行国事访问并出席纪念苏联伟大卫国战争胜利80周年庆典时强调，要“坚持正确二战史观”，“共同弘扬正确二战史观”。身为全球范围内的中国问题研究学者及专家，我们肩负着另一项关键使命：抵制歪曲二战历史的谬误，捍卫中国应得的尊重，促使全球清晰且深刻地认识到，在第二次世界大战中，中国与西方国家并肩对抗法西斯轴心国，为日本的最终战败作出了不可磨灭的巨大贡献，在国际舞台上发挥着更重要作用。

The year 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. At this important moment, China studies scholars, researchers and experts around the world should remind the world to jointly remember the great sacrifices China made for world peace. Countries of the “Global South” have reason to take China as an example, clearly demonstrating to the world the tenacious spirit and firm will China displayed in WWII, and the price it paid and major contributions it made to the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War. To this day, the spirit of the War of Resistance still inspires the Chinese people to continuously overcome all difficulties and dangers, forge ahead courageously, and strive for the Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Today, countries around the world should take history as a mirror, discard prejudice and misunderstanding, and engage in cooperation and exchange with a friendlier and more open attitude. Let us join hands to build a world of peaceful coexistence and mutual benefit, avoid the recurrence of historical tragedies, and jointly advance the cause of peace and development for all mankind.

2025年是中国人民抗日战争暨世界反法西斯战争胜利80周年。在这一重要时刻，世界各地的中国问题学者、研究人员及专家们应当提醒世界共同铭记中国为世界和平所作出的巨大牺牲。“全球南方”国家有理由以中国为榜样，向世界清楚地展示在第二次世界大战中，中国展现出的顽强精神与坚定意志，为世界反法西斯战争胜利所付出的代价和作出的重大贡献。时至今日，抗战精神仍然激励着中国人民不断克服一切艰难险阻、奋勇拼搏，为实现中华民族伟大复兴的中国梦而努力奋斗。如今，世界各国应当以史为鉴，摒弃偏见与误解，以更加友好和开放的态度开展合作与交流。让我们携手共进，共同构建一个和平共处、互利共赢的世界，避免历史悲剧的重演，共同推进全人类的和平与发展事业。

(The author is an associate professor of political science at the Faculty of Politics and Economics, Beni Suef University, Egypt, and an expert on Asian affairs.)

（作者系埃及贝尼苏韦夫大学政治与经济学院政治学副教授、亚洲事务专家）

Online editor: Tongxin

网络编辑：同心