Commemorating Victory Is for Eternal Victory

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. Our country will hold grand commemorative activities. Looking back at that great victory which, after 14 arduous years, saw countless Chinese sons and daughters step forward to face national crisis and defend the mountains and rivers with blood, it not only completely smashed the Japanese militarists' attempt to annex China, but also re-established China's status as a major country in the world, opening up bright prospects for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

今年是中国人民抗日战争暨世界反法西斯战争胜利80周年，我国将隆重举行纪念活动。回首80年前那场历经14载艰苦卓绝的伟大胜利，无数中华儿女挺身赴国难、浴血卫山河，不仅彻底粉碎了日本军国主义企图吞并中国的图谋，更重新确立了中国在世界上的大国地位，开辟了中华民族伟大复兴的光明前景。

Entering history is for the sake of moving toward the future; commemorating victory is for the sake of eternal victory. We commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War precisely in order to remember history, cherish the memory of martyrs, carry forward the great spirit of the War of Resistance, draw from it firm confidence and mighty strength for facing the future, and win the great victory of socialism with Chinese characteristics for a New Era.

走进历史是为了走向未来，纪念胜利是为了永远胜利。我们纪念中国人民抗日战争暨世界反法西斯战争胜利80周年，就是为了铭记历史、缅怀先烈，弘扬伟大抗战精神，从中汲取面向未来的坚定信心与磅礴力量，夺取新时代中国特色社会主义伟大胜利。

"Looking afar, the central plains are ablaze with war; a single pillar against the raging torrent stands in Yan'an." [1]1 A couplet describing Yan'an as the steadfast pillar of resistance during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. The great victory of the War of Resistance demonstrated the CPC's role as the mainstay. This was most concentrated and most evident during the 14 years of bitter resistance. The CPC, born and growing amid domestic turmoil and foreign aggression, was the most steadfast in defending national independence, the most resolute in safeguarding national interests, and the most courageous in resisting foreign invasion. It was precisely the CPC that raised high the great banner of the Anti-Japanese National United Front [2]2 The Anti-Japanese National United Front was the second united front between the CPC and the Kuomintang, established in 1937 to resist Japanese aggression., thereby rallying the mighty power of the entire nation for the war; it was precisely the millions of Communists who stood on the front line of the struggle against the enemy, thereby composing the magnificent chapter "men and women, old and young, all join the battle; the people's war is that invincible force" [3]3 A line from the revolutionary song "The People's War," popular during the war period.. Handling China's affairs well depends on the Party. Since the New Era, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has united and led the people of the whole country in overcoming one seemingly insurmountable difficulty after another, creating one miracle after another that commands attention, and promoting historic achievements and historic transformations in the cause of the Party and the state. To advance the great cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics, we must always give play to the Party's role as the mainstay, firmly uphold and constantly strengthen the Party's overall leadership, unswervingly listen to the Party and follow the Party, and push the cause of the Party and the state to continually achieve new great victories.

“遥望中原烽火急，狂流一柱在延安。”抗日战争的伟大胜利，彰显了中国共产党中流砥柱的作用。这一点，在14年的艰苦抗战中体现得最为集中、最为明显。在内忧外患中诞生和成长起来的中国共产党，捍卫民族独立最坚定，维护民族利益最坚决，反抗外来侵略最勇敢。正是中国共产党高举抗日民族统一战线的伟大旗帜，才凝聚起全民族抗战的伟大力量；正是千千万万的共产党人站在对敌斗争的最前线，才谱写了“男女老少齐参战，人民战争就是那无敌的力量”的壮丽篇章。办好中国的事情，关键在党。新时代以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央团结带领全国人民，攻克了一个个看似不可攻克的难关险隘，创造了一个个令人刮目相看的人间奇迹，推动党和国家事业取得历史性成就，发生历史性变革。推进中国特色社会主义伟大事业，必须始终发挥党的中流砥柱作用，牢牢坚持并不断加强党的全面领导，坚定不移听党话、跟党走，推动党和国家事业不断取得新的伟大胜利。

The ancients said: "Signs of victory or defeat first appear in spirit." [4]4 An ancient Chinese military maxim emphasizing that signs of victory or defeat first appear in morale and spirit. The War of Resistance was not only a contest of material strength, but even more a contest of spirit and will. Under conditions of extreme disparity in economic and military power, the Chinese people fought the powerful enemy with their flesh and blood, went forward one after another to face national crisis, and composed a heroic epic that shakes heaven and earth and moves the gods. This arduous great struggle built the Great Wall with flesh and blood, and gave birth to the great spirit of the War of Resistance — namely, the patriotic sentiment that "everyone is responsible for the rise and fall of the nation" [5]5 A famous saying by Ming–Qing scholar Gu Yanwu (1613–1682), meaning "Every individual is responsible for the rise and fall of the nation.", the national integrity of facing death unflinchingly and preferring death to surrender, the heroic mettle of defying brute force and fighting to the bitter end, and the conviction of victory that is indomitable and persevering. Over the long years, the great victory and the great spirit have inspired us to overcome difficulties and forge ahead courageously. On the new journey of the New Era, we must all the more remember the history of the martyrs' struggle, carry forward the great spirit of the War of Resistance, unite as one, constantly strive for self-improvement, integrate personal ideals and pursuits into the cause of the Party and the state, and strive to win greater victories and glory.

古人云：“胜负之征，精神先见。”抗日战争既是一场物质实力的较量，更是一场精神意志的比拼。在经济实力、军事实力极为悬殊的情况下，中国人民用血肉之躯战强敌，以前赴后继赴国难，谱写了惊天地、泣鬼神的雄壮史诗。这场艰苦卓绝的伟大斗争，以血肉之躯筑长城，孕育了伟大抗战精神，这就是天下兴亡、匹夫有责的爱国情怀，视死如归、宁死不屈的民族气节，不畏强暴、血战到底的英雄气概，百折不挠、坚忍不拔的必胜信念。在漫长岁月里，伟大的胜利和伟大的精神，激励着我们克服艰难险阻、勇往直前。新时代新征程，我们更要铭记先烈的奋斗史，发扬伟大抗战精神，团结一心、自强不息，把个人理想追求融入党和国家事业之中，努力赢得更加伟大的胜利和荣光。

China's War of Resistance opened up the Eastern Main Battlefield of the World Anti-Fascist War and made important contributions to the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War. Having experienced the suffering of war, the Chinese people all the more understand the preciousness and hard-won nature of peace. History can inspire emotional strength, but it also endows rational reflection. Facing the rapidly changing international situation and the arduous and heavy missions and tasks, we must unswervingly uphold and strengthen the Party's overall leadership, firmly uphold the Two Establishments and resolutely achieve the Two Upholds [6]6 "The Two Establishments" refers to establishing Comrade Xi Jinping’s core position in the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole, and establishing the guiding role of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. "The Two Upholds" refers to upholding Comrade Xi Jinping’s core position in the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole, and upholding the authority and centralized, unified leadership of the Party Central Committee., and lead the great social revolution with the Party's self-revolution; we must remember the historical lesson that backwardness invites attack, and concentrate on doing our own things well; we must strengthen our national defense mindset and defense awareness, unite as one to build a solid barrier for peace; we must persist in the path of peaceful development, and continuously contribute Chinese wisdom and Chinese strength to the development and progress of human civilization.

中国抗战开辟了世界反法西斯战争的东方主战场，为世界反法西斯战争的胜利作出重要贡献。经历过战争苦难的中国人民更加懂得和平的可贵与来之不易。历史能激发情感的力量，也能赋予理性的思考。面对风云变幻的国际形势，面对艰巨繁重的使命任务，我们必须毫不动摇坚持和加强党的全面领导，坚定拥护“两个确立”、坚决做到“两个维护”，以党的自我革命引领伟大社会革命；必须牢记落后就要挨打的历史教训，集中精力做好自己的事情；必须强化国防观念和国防意识，众志成城筑牢保卫和平的坚固屏障；必须坚持走和平发展的道路，不断为人类文明发展进步贡献中国智慧和中国力量。

Back then, on the day of victory in the War of Resistance, the Liberation Daily published an article pointing out: "We have won today! But we must never forget that the victory we have won was hard-won; and to preserve the fruits of this victory — so that they are not devoured by jackals — requires even more boundless resolve and courage!" [7]7 The Liberation Daily (Jiefang Ribao) was the official newspaper of the CPC Central Committee during the Yan'an period, first published in 1941. On the new journey, the Chinese people will surely, with their own "boundless resolve and courage," defend and expand the hard-won fruits of victory, and through unremitting struggle win eternal victory, continuously pushing forward the great cause of building a strong country and national rejuvenation.

当年，《解放日报》在抗战胜利之日载文指出：“我们今天胜利了！但是决不能忘记，赢得来的胜利是艰难；而保有这胜利的果实——不为豺狼所吞食，更需要无限的坚决和勇敢！”新征程上，中国人民必将以自己“无限的坚决和勇敢”，捍卫和扩大来之不易的胜利果实，并以不懈奋斗赢得永远的胜利，把强国建设、民族复兴伟业不断推向前进。

Online editor: Tongxin

网络编辑：同心