Learning from the History of the War of Resistance to Advance Political Army Building

Eighty years ago, after 14 years of arduous and bloody struggle, the Chinese people defeated the heinous Japanese militarist aggressors and won the first complete victory in China's resistance against foreign invasion since modern times. Under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China, the people's anti-Japanese armed forces such as the Eighth Route Army and the New Fourth Army dealt heavy blows to the Japanese invaders and became the backbone that sustained the protracted war and secured the final victory. During this period, our Party, in light of the situation and tasks, continuously deepened its understanding of the laws governing political army building, provided a series of theoretical answers, and adopted a series of revolutionary initiatives, thereby politically ensuring that our military could overcome the strong with the weak and grow from weak to strong. The light of faith transcends time, and the power of truth is ever new. At present, the world situation, national conditions, Party conditions, and military conditions are undergoing complex and profound changes, and political army building faces major epochal questions such as how to strengthen it, where to advance it, and how to act. Looking back at the history of the War of Resistance, inheriting and carrying forward the glorious theory and practice of our Party's army building and governance is of great significance for deeply advancing political army building on the new journey.

80年前，中国人民经过14年艰苦卓绝的浴血奋战，打败了穷凶极恶的日本军国主义侵略者，赢得了近代以来中国抗击外敌入侵的第一次完全胜利。八路军、新四军等人民抗日武装在中国共产党的坚强领导下，给日寇以沉重打击，成为支撑持久抗战、夺取最后胜利的中坚力量。其间，我们党结合形势任务，不断深化对政治建军的规律性认识，作出一系列理论回答，采取一系列革命性创举，从政治上有力保证我军以弱胜强、由弱到强。信仰之光穿越时空，真理力量历久弥新。当前，世情、国情、党情、军情发生复杂深刻变化，政治建军面临如何加强、向哪前进、怎么作为等重大时代课题。回望抗日战争历史，把我们党建军治军的光辉理论与实践传承好弘扬好，对于新征程上深入推进政治建军，具有十分重要的意义。

I. "War is inseparable from politics at any moment." The magnificent epic of the War of Resistance profoundly reveals the relationship between military affairs and politics. On the new journey, advancing political army building must always consider and handle military issues from a political perspective.

一、“战争一刻也离不了政治”，抗日战争雄壮史诗深刻揭示军事与政治的关系，新征程上推进政治建军必须始终从政治高度思考和处理军事问题

War is the continuation of politics—this is a basic viewpoint of Marxist war theory. Comrade Mao Zedong further profoundly elucidated in *On Protracted War* that "war is politics with bloodshed" and "war itself is a political act; from ancient times there has never been a war that is not political." [1]1 Mao Zedong, "On Protracted War" (1938). With the outbreak of the September 18th Incident, [2]2 The September 18th Incident (1931) was a staged event by Japanese militarists as a pretext for invading and occupying Northeast China. Japanese imperialism sought to "completely conquer China." At the critical moment of national survival, the Chinese Communists, with thorough theoretical clarity, high political rationality, and deep national sentiment, comprehensively and scientifically analyzed the international and domestic situation China faced, made the major political judgment that "the contradiction between China and Japan has become the principal contradiction, while domestic contradictions have been relegated to a secondary and subordinate position," [3]3 Mao Zedong, "The Tasks of the Chinese Communist Party in the Period of Resistance Against Japan" (1937). clearly and explicitly proposed the political purpose of the War of Resistance—to expel Japanese imperialism and establish a new, free, and equal China—and proposed "appropriately adjusting the contradictions that can and must be adjusted at home and abroad at the present time, so that they are suited to the general task of uniting for resistance against Japan." [4]4 Ibid. Our Party successively issued the August First Declaration, [5]5 The August First Declaration (1935) was a public appeal by the CPC for a united front against Japan. adopted the *Resolution of the Central Committee of the CPC on the Current Political Situation and the Party's Tasks*, [6]6 Adopted at the Wayaobu Conference in December 1935. and published the *Letter of the CPC Central Committee to the Chinese Kuomintang* and the *Telegram from the CPC Central Committee to the Third Plenary Session of the Kuomintang Central Executive Committee*, [7]7 These documents (1936-1937) sought to end the civil war and form a united front with the Kuomintang. along with a series of other important documents and telegrams. Proceeding from the greater national interest and the overall situation, it facilitated cooperation between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party and advocated the establishment of a national united front for resistance against Japan. At the same time, it specified that the Party's central task at this stage was "to mobilize all forces to strive for the final victory of the War of Resistance," [8]8 From the "August 25, 1937 Resolution of the CPC Central Committee on the Current Situation and the Party's Tasks." requiring the Red Army to "adapt to the circumstances of the War of Resistance" and to accomplish important tasks such as "reorganizing into the National Revolutionary Army" and "becoming a model corps in the War of Resistance." [9]9 From the "August 25, 1937 Order of the Central Revolutionary Military Commission on the Reorganization of the Red Army into the Eighth Route Army of the National Revolutionary Army." Acting on the Party's propositions, the people's army set aside all past grievances, sincerely "brothers quarreling at home unite against outside aggression," [10]10 A classical Chinese idiom from the *Book of Songs*, meaning internal disputes are set aside to face external threats. and "joined hands with the Kuomintang army to save the nation," [11]11 Slogan from the united front period. thereby creating the "first necessary condition" for realizing the Party's tasks. [12]12 Mao Zedong, "The Situation and Tasks in the Anti-Japanese War After the Fall of Shanghai and Taiyuan" (1937). During the War of Resistance, wherever the task of national liberation was, there were the Party's tasks, and there the military was directed, vividly illustrating the essential attribute of the military's political nature.

战争是政治的继续，这是马克思主义战争理论的一个基本观点。毛泽东同志在《论持久战》中进一步深刻阐明，“战争是流血的政治”，“战争本身就是政治性质的行动，从古以来没有不带政治性的战争”。九一八事变爆发，日本帝国主义妄图“完全征服中国”。在民族存亡关键时刻，中国共产党人以彻底的理论清醒、高度的政治理性和深沉的民族情怀，全面科学分析中国所处国际国内形势，作出“中日矛盾成为主要的矛盾、国内矛盾降到次要和服从的地位”的重大政治判断，清晰明确地提出抗日战争的政治目的——驱逐日本帝国主义、建立自由平等的新中国，提出“适当地调整国内国际在现时可能和必须调整的矛盾，使之适合于团结抗日的总任务”。我们党先后发布八一宣言、通过《中共中央关于目前政治形势与党的任务的决议》、发表《中国共产党致中国国民党书》和《中共中央致国民党三中全会电》等一系列重要文件文电，从民族大义和全局出发，促成国共合作，倡导建立抗日民族统一战线。同时，指明党在这一阶段的最中心的任务是“动员一切力量争取抗战的最后胜利”，要求红军“适合抗日战争的情况”，完成“改组为国民革命军”、“造成抗日战争中的模范兵团”等重要任务。人民军队在党的主张下，放下一切旧仇宿怨，以“兄弟阋于墙外御其侮”的真诚，与国民党军“携手共同救国”，为实现党的任务创造了“第一个必要条件”。抗日战争中，民族解放的任务在哪里，党的任务就在哪里，军队就指向哪里，生动诠释了军队政治性这个本质属性。

Today, China is at a critical stage of development from a large country to a powerful one. Realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is the highest interest of our country and nation. Our military is an armed group that carries out the Party's political tasks. Army building must first be viewed from a political perspective, insisting that military affairs serve politics and strategy serve policy. This inherently requires that the entire construction and use of military force be understood and planned within the overarching goal of realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. On the new journey, deeply advancing political army building must adhere to centering on the core and serving the overall situation, always considering and handling military issues from a political perspective. The "five adherences" in military outlook and methodology proposed by President Xi Jinping—namely, adhering to political guidance, adhering to stopping war with force, adhering to proactive advancement, adhering to overall planning and coordination, and adhering to daring to fight and being sure to win—constitute the way to achieve victory and strengthen the military in the New Era and the "master key" for studying and solving military issues. Among them, "adhering to political guidance" occupies the foremost position and plays a commanding role. It is necessary to deepen understanding and awareness to ensure that direction is always clear, the mind is sober, responses are effective, and actions are forceful. At present, the complexity and difficulty of the national security issues we face have markedly increased, and various predictable and unpredictable risks and challenges have grown significantly, especially intensified external containment and suppression. The more turbulent the times, the more we must maintain strategic sobriety and enhance strategic resolve. We must use the yardstick of politics to measure military issues, always planning and deploying military operations within the overall framework of the country's political and diplomatic situation and the national security strategy, ensuring that at all times they absolutely serve and obey the Party's central tasks. This requires keeping in mind the "greatest concerns of the state," [13]13 "国之大者" (guo zhi da zhe) is a term used by Xi Jinping to refer to the most fundamental and vital interests and tasks of the state. continuously improving political judgment, political understanding, and political execution, daring to struggle and being adept at struggle, acting with order in movement and restraint in withdrawal, striving to win dual advantages in politics and military affairs, and creating a favorable environment for realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

当今中国正处在由大向强发展的关键阶段，实现中华民族伟大复兴是我们国家和民族的最高利益。我军是执行党的政治任务的武装集团，抓军队建设首先要从政治上看，坚持军事服从政治、战略服从政略。这内在地规定了要把整个军事力量建设运用，放在实现中华民族伟大复兴大目标下来认识和筹划。新征程上，深入推进政治建军必须坚持围绕中心、服务大局，始终从政治高度思考和处理军事问题。习近平主席提出的“五个坚持”的军事观和方法论，即坚持政治引领、坚持以武止戈、坚持积极进取、坚持统筹兼顾、坚持敢打必胜，是新时代强军胜战之道和研究解决军事问题的“总钥匙”，其中“坚持政治引领”居于首位，起着统摄作用，要深化理解认识，确保始终方向明确、头脑清醒、应对有方、行动有力。当前，我们所面临的国家安全问题的复杂程度、艰巨程度明显加大，各种可以预料和难以预料的风险挑战显著增多，特别是外部遏制打压变本加厉。越是风高浪急，越要保持战略清醒、增强战略定力。要坚持用政治这把尺子来衡量军事问题，始终把军事行动置于国家政治外交大局和国家安全战略全局下来布局谋划，确保任何时候都绝对服从服务于党的中心任务。这就要求胸怀“国之大者”，不断提高政治判断力、政治领悟力、政治执行力，既敢于斗争，又善于斗争，动静有序，进退有矩，努力赢得政治和军事上的双优势，为实现中华民族伟大复兴创造有利环境。

II. "Our principle is that the Party commands the gun." The magnificent epic of the War of Resistance profoundly reveals the relationship between the political party and the military. On the new journey, advancing political army building must unwaveringly uphold the Party's absolute leadership over the military.

二、“我们的原则是党指挥枪”，抗日战争雄壮史诗深刻揭示政党与军队的关系，新征程上推进政治建军必须毫不动摇坚持党对军队绝对领导

Turning to modern Chinese history, anti-imperialist and anti-feudal struggles rose one after another with no lack of fervor, yet they repeatedly ended in failure. One important reason was the lack of leadership by an advanced political party. The Communist Party of China, born and growing up amid domestic turmoil and foreign aggression, from its very inception shouldered the historical mission of realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation with thorough revolutionary spirit and thorough popular character. It was the most resolute in defending national independence, the most determined in safeguarding national interests, and the most courageous in resisting foreign aggression. As a people's army founded and led by the Party, from its very first day our military held high the Party's banner and resolutely obeyed the Party's command. During the War of Resistance, the Red Army soldiers removed their red star octagonal caps and replaced them with the Blue Sky and White Sun emblem, [14]14 The emblem of the Kuomintang's National Revolutionary Army, adopted by the Red Army after its formal reorganization in 1937. but their rock-solid belief in loyalty to the Party never wavered. At that time, Chen Geng, [15]15 Chen Geng (1903-1961), a senior PLA general and commander during the War of Resistance. brigade commander of the 386th Brigade of the Eighth Route Army, wrote in his diary, "The Red Army is forever the Red Army; no matter what name they give it, no matter what hat they put on it, we will always fight for the glory of the Communist Party." [16]16 Chen Geng's diary, quoted in historical accounts. After the establishment of the national united front for resistance against Japan, in the face of "the unprincipled tendency to accommodate the Kuomintang within the united front," [17]17 Mao Zedong, "The Situation and Tasks in the Anti-Japanese War After the Fall of Shanghai and Taiyuan" (1937). our Party adhered to independence and initiative, and the fundamental principle of the Party leading the military was never shaken. Comrade Mao Zedong pointed out, "Communists do not strive for personal military power," but "they must strive for the Party's military power, they must strive for the people's military power. Now it is a national war of resistance, and they must also strive for the nation's military power," [18]18 Mao Zedong, "Problems of War and Strategy" (1938). clearly and firmly keeping the gun barrel firmly in the Party's hands. During this period, our Party, based on the realities of the War of Resistance, carried out many creative tasks around ensuring the military's obedience to the Party's command. After the reorganization of the Red Army, the CPC Central Committee decided to establish the Front Committee of the Central Military Commission and the New Fourth Army Sub-Committee to strengthen specific leadership. In February 1941, the Central Military Commission issued regulations stipulating that military-political committees be established in units at and above the regimental level and in sub-district level units, improving the organizational structure for the Party's leadership over the military. In April 1944, Tan Zheng, [19]19 Tan Zheng (1906-1988), a senior PLA political commissar and general. then Deputy Director of the General Political Department of the Central Military Commission, commissioned by the CPC Central Committee, delivered the *Report on the Political Work of the Military*, [20]20 Commonly known as the "Tan Zheng Report," a key document on military political work. which reaffirmed the Party's absolute leadership over the military and clarified it as a basic principle for handling the "Party-military relationship." History fully proves that the Communist Party of China is a Marxist political party, and our military is a new-type people's army of a proletarian nature. Only by resolutely listening to the Party and following its lead can it fundamentally preserve its nature, purpose, and character, and can it always advance bravely in the correct direction.

翻开中国近代史，此起彼伏的反帝反封建斗争不可谓不火热，但屡屡难逃失败命运，一个重要原因，就在于缺乏先进政党领导。在内忧外患中诞生和成长起来的中国共产党，一经成立就以彻底的革命性和彻底的人民性，肩负起实现中华民族伟大复兴的历史使命，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。我军作为党缔造和领导的人民军队，建立第一天起就高举党的旗帜、坚决听党指挥。抗日战争时期，红军将士摘下红星八角帽，换上青天白日徽，但忠诚于党的如磐信念从未动摇。当年，八路军三八六旅旅长陈赓在日记中写道，“红军永远是红军，任他换个什么名义，戴上什么帽子，我们始终为了共产党的光荣而奋斗”。抗日民族统一战线建立后，面对“统一战线中迁就国民党的无原则倾向”，我们党坚持独立自主，党领导军队的根本原则从未动摇。毛泽东同志指出，“共产党员不争个人的兵权”，“但要争党的兵权，要争人民的兵权。现在是民族抗战，还要争民族的兵权”，态度鲜明地把枪杆子牢牢掌握在党的手中。这一时期，我们党根据抗战实际，围绕保证军队听党指挥，进行了许多创造性工作。红军改编后，中共中央决定成立中央军委前方分会和新四军分会，加强具体领导；1941年2月，中央军委颁布条例，规定团以上及分区以上部队成立军政委员会，健全党领导军队的组织机构。1944年4月，时任中央军委总政治部副主任的谭政受中共中央委托作《关于军队政治工作问题》的报告，重申了党对军队绝对领导，并将其作为处理“军党关系”的基本原则加以明确。历史充分证明，中国共产党是马克思主义政党，我军是无产阶级性质的新型人民军队，只有坚决听党话、跟党走，才能从根本上永葆性质、宗旨、本色，才能始终沿着正确方向奋勇前进。

Holding high the banner and obeying the Party’s command are the fundamental political requirements of the Party and the people for the military. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, President Xi Jinping, focusing on realizing the Party’s goal of strengthening the military in the New Era, has firmly grasped the Party’s absolute leadership over the military as the foundation of army building and the soul of a strong military, guiding the great transformation of the people’s military in the New Era through political revolutionary forging. On the new journey, deeply advancing political army building must highlight holding high the banner, casting the soul, strengthening the foundation, and consolidating the root, unswervingly upholding the Party’s absolute leadership over the military. Political firmness stems from theoretical clarity; upholding the Party’s absolute leadership over the military, and deeply planting the ideological root of absolute loyalty to the Party throughout the entire military, is the primary task. Persist in

高举旗帜、听党指挥，是党和人民对军队的根本政治要求。党的十八大以来，习近平主席着眼实现党在新时代的强军目标，紧紧扭住党对军队绝对领导这个建军之本、强军之魂，以政治上的革命性锻造引领新时代人民军队伟大变革。新征程上，深入推进政治建军必须突出举旗铸魂、强根固本，毫不动摇坚持党对军队绝对领导。政治上的坚定源于理论上的清醒，坚持党对军队绝对领导，深扎全军对党绝对忠诚的思想根子是首要。坚持用习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想铸魂育人，全面贯彻习近平强军思想，加强体系化学理化研究阐释，系统阐发蕴含其中的道理学理哲理，把官兵的忠诚基因镌刻在对科学理论的内在认同上。军委主席负责制是坚持党对军队绝对领导的根本制度和根本实现形式，也是“两个确立”在人民军队落地生根的重要制度保证。要把全面深入贯彻军委主席负责制，作为最高政治要求来遵循、最高政治纪律来严守，做到听习近平主席指挥、对习近平主席负责、让习近平主席放心。高层党委地位重要、责任重大，高级干部身上千钧重担、身后千军万马，更需要加强政治能力训练，增强政治敏锐性和政治鉴别力，在重大原则立场上头脑特别清醒、态度特别鲜明、行动特别坚决，用表率之举感召带动部队。

III. “The soldiers and the people are the foundation of victory.” The magnificent epic of the War of Resistance profoundly reveals the relationship between the military and the people. On the new journey, advancing political army building must consolidate and develop military-civilian unity in the New Era.

三、“兵民是胜利之本”，抗日战争雄壮史诗深刻揭示军队与人民的关系，新征程上推进政治建军必须巩固发展新时代军政军民团结

Looking back on that darkest and most humiliating period of history, there were many reasons why Japan dared to invade China, a vast nation of 450 million people, with a population of less than 100 million. But the main reason was “the unorganized state of the Chinese people.” [21]21 Mao Zedong, “On Protracted War” (May 1938), *Selected Works of Mao Zedong*, Vol. 2. The old China’s corrupt politics, lack of popular unity, and scattered condition like a sheet of loose sand gave Japanese militarism its opportunity. Faced with profound national crisis, the Communist Party of China, armed with Marxism, did not retreat or become despondent. Instead, it deeply rooted the expulsion of the Japanese invaders in the vast land of China, drawing inexhaustible strength from all patriotic people who wished to serve the country. Comrade Mao Zedong pointed out, “Such a great national revolutionary war cannot be won without universal and thorough political mobilization.” [22]22 Mao Zedong, “On Protracted War” (May 1938), *Selected Works of Mao Zedong*, Vol. 2. Responding to our Party’s call for “the whole army and the whole people to rise up and struggle,” countless Chinese sons and daughters, from north to south of the great river and inside and outside the Great Wall, shared a common hatred for the enemy and faced the national calamity together. The military and the people joined hands to create highly intelligent guerrilla tactics such as tunnel warfare, landmine warfare, and door-curtain warfare. Mothers sent their sons to fight the Japanese invaders, wives sent their husbands to the battlefield, composing a symphony of resistance in which “four hundred million people all rise up in wrath, united in heart and mind to don the armor of war.” [23]23 A line from a poem by the modern Chinese writer and historian Guo Moruo, praising the united resistance of the Chinese people. At that time, the Yan’an “Flower Drum Song” sang, “The army is the people bearing rifles; the people are the Eighth Route Army without uniforms. The army is the sharp arrow, the people the shield; to defend the nation, we are tightly united.” This vividly depicted the touching scene of the military and people “becoming one.” Throughout the entire War of Resistance, all Chinese political parties, ethnic groups, classes, strata, and organizations united. Overseas Chinese also supported the war in various ways, such as returning to China to join the army and fight the enemy, organizing anti-Japanese national salvation groups, and donating money and goods. It was precisely because of the direction of the people’s will, the return of the people’s aspirations, and the gathering of the people’s strength that, through this war, we not only defeated Japanese imperialism but also enabled the Party and the people’s army to grow and develop. During the War of Resistance, our army consistently stood firm on the people’s position and won the heartfelt support of the broadest masses. This was a vivid practice of the Marxist view of the people in the military field and became a powerful proof of the scientific assertion that “the roots of the people’s army are deeply planted in the fertile soil of the people.” [24]24 A paraphrase of a statement by Xi Jinping, emphasizing the people as the foundation of the people’s army.

回首那段至暗屈辱的历史，日本之所以敢以不到一亿之众，远犯四万万五千万之泱泱中华，原因固然很多，但主要的，“在于中国民众的无组织状态”。旧中国政治腐朽、民心不聚、一盘散沙，给了日本军国主义可乘之机。面对深重民族危难，用马克思主义武装起来的中国共产党没有退缩，没有消沉，而是把驱逐日寇的根深扎进辽阔中国大地，向一切有志报国救国的人民群众汲取无尽伟力。毛泽东同志指出，“如此伟大的民族革命战争，没有普遍和深入的政治动员，是不能胜利的”。在我们党“全军全民起来奋斗”的号召下，大江南北、长城内外，无数中华儿女同仇敌忾、共赴国难。军民携手创造出地道战、地雷战、挑帘战等极具智慧的游击战法，母亲送儿打日寇，妻子送郎上战场，谱写了“四万万人齐蹈厉，同心同德一戎衣”的抗战交响曲。当时延安《花鼓词》中唱的“军队是扛枪的老百姓，老百姓是不穿军装的八路军；军为利箭民做盾，为保江山团结紧”，生动描绘了军民“打成一片”的感人图景。整个抗日战争期间，中国各党派、各民族、各阶级、各阶层、各团体都团结起来，海外华侨华人也纷纷通过回国参军杀敌、组织抗日救亡团体、捐款捐物等各种形式支援抗战。正是有了民心所向、民意所归、民力所聚，经此一战，我们不仅打败了日本帝国主义，党和人民军队也得以发展壮大。抗日战争中，我军始终站稳人民立场、赢得最广大人民衷心拥护，是马克思主义人民观在军事领域的生动实践，成为“人民军队的根脉，深扎在人民的深厚大地”科学论断的有力证明。

For the army to win battles, the people are the mountain of support. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, President Xi Jinping has repeatedly demanded that our army remember its sacred duty of carrying guns for the people and fighting for the people, and develop an unshakable military-civilian relationship from the height of the overall work of the Party and the state and the overall situation of national defense and army building. On the new journey, to deeply advance political army building, we must adhere to a people-centered approach and continuously consolidate and develop military-civilian unity in the New Era. We must carry forward the fine tradition of maintaining close ties with the masses, adhere to coming from the people, serving the people, and relying on the people, always place the people highest in our hearts, maintain a relationship of seamless integration and shared life and death with the masses, fully utilize our own resources and advantages, create benefits for the people through practical actions, and continuously enhance the deep affection and flesh-and-blood bond with the people. We must firmly establish combat effectiveness as the sole and fundamental criterion, vigorously focus on building combat effectiveness by eliminating falsity and deception, comprehensively strengthen military training and war preparedness, ensure that we can be deployed, go into action, and win when called upon, resolutely defend the people’s peaceful labor and life, and forever be the defender of the people’s interests and the people’s trusted army. We must adhere to the integration of military and civilian, and the integration of peacetime and wartime, strengthen the integrated integration of strategic layouts, the integrated consolidation of strategic resources, and the integrated application of strategic forces in various fields, accelerate the enhancement of strategic capabilities in emerging fields, promote the efficient integration and two-way pull between new quality productive forces and new quality combat capabilities, and consolidate and improve the integrated national strategic system and capabilities. We must innovate and develop the strategic tactics of people’s war, promote the modernization transformation of local support work under the new type of nationwide system, and transform the extraordinary creativity of the people into an important winning force in modern warfare.

军队打胜仗，人民是靠山。党的十八大以来，习近平主席反复要求，我军要牢记为人民扛枪、为人民打仗的神圣职责，从党和国家工作大局、国防和军队建设全局的高度出发，发展坚如磐石的军政军民关系。新征程上，深入推进政治建军必须坚持以人民为中心，不断巩固发展新时代军政军民团结。发扬密切联系群众的优良传统，坚持来自人民、为了人民、依靠人民，始终把人民放在心中最高位置，保持同人民群众水乳交融、生死与共的关系，充分利用自身资源和优势，以实际行动为人民造福兴利，不断增进同人民群众的鱼水深情和血肉联系。牢固树立战斗力这个唯一的根本的标准，狠抓战斗力建设治虚打假，全面加强练兵备战，确保一旦有事能够拉得出、上得去、打得赢，坚决保卫人民和平劳动和生活，永远做人民利益的捍卫者、人民信赖的子弟兵。坚持军民一体、平战一体，加强各领域战略布局一体融合、战略资源一体整合、战略力量一体运用，加快提升新兴领域战略能力，推动新质生产力同新质战斗力高效融合、双向拉动，巩固提高一体化国家战略体系和能力。创新发展人民战争战略战术，在新型举国体制下推动地方支前工作现代化转型，把人民群众的非凡创造力转化为现代战争的重要制胜力。

IV. “The decisive factor in war is people, not things.” The magnificent epic of the War of Resistance profoundly reveals the relationship between spirit and matter. On the new journey, advancing political army building must strengthen the cultivation of the fighting spirit.

四、战争“决定的因素是人不是物”，抗日战争雄壮史诗深刻揭示精神与物质的关系，新征程上推进政治建军必须加强战斗精神培育

In the recently released film “Nanjing Photo Studio,” the character Wang Guanghai knows in his heart that being a traitor is shameful, yet he would rather bet that “the Japanese cannot possibly lose” than entertain the thought of “what if the Japanese lose.” Art originates from life and reflects history. After the July 7th Incident of 1937, [25]25 The Marco Polo Bridge Incident, which marked the beginning of the full-scale outbreak of the Second Sino-Japanese War. facing the arrogant Japanese army, the “theory of national subjugation” once swept over and enveloped the Chinese people. Many high-ranking Kuomintang officials held the pessimistic view that “war will inevitably lead to great defeat,” and ordinary people also worried that “when the war will end is impossible to predict, and the fate of the nation is hard to determine.” Under the extremely severe situation, the Chinese Communists demonstrated a firm belief in victory and used this belief to inspire the fighting spirit of the entire nation and army. Comrade Mao Zedong admonished the Chinese people, “We, the Chinese nation, have the spirit to fight the enemy to the bitter end, the determination to recover our lost possessions on the basis of self-reliance, and the ability to stand on our own feet among the nations of the world.” [26]26 Mao Zedong, “On Protracted War” (May 1938), *Selected Works of Mao Zedong*, Vol. 2. He encouraged the people, saying that “mobilizing the entire nation’s common people” would “create the conditions to make up for defects in weaponry.” [27]27 Mao Zedong, “On Protracted War” (May 1938), *Selected Works of Mao Zedong*, Vol. 2. He proclaimed to the people that “although Japan’s technical conditions are superior, it will ultimately be defeated.” [28]28 Mao Zedong, “On Protracted War” (May 1938), *Selected Works of Mao Zedong*, Vol. 2. He demanded that our army “infuse progressive political spirit into the army” to increase its “tremendous combat effectiveness.” [29]29 Mao Zedong, “On Protracted War” (May 1938), *Selected Works of Mao Zedong*, Vol. 2. At the time, a newspaper wrote, “The current spirit of the whole nation preparing to fight to the death in self-defense is truly unimaginable from a few years ago. This spirit alone is enough to guarantee that our nation will never decline.” Inspired by the great spirit of the War of Resistance, which was nurtured in the magnificent course of the war, the “popular morale” of the Chinese people fighting for national survival and national dignity soared to the heavens. The entire army and people, one after another, fearless of sacrifice, at the enormous cost of over 35 million casualties, built a new Great Wall to defend their homes and their motherland, erecting another towering and immortal monument for the Chinese nation. Looking back from today, the fact that the Chinese military and civilians, relying on the great spirit of the War of Resistance, overcame a superior enemy and defeated the Japanese army, which was “first-rate in the East” at the time, was not a stroke of luck or an accident. It was the historical inevitability of justice, peace, and the people prevailing; it was the scientific inevitability of correctly grasping the relationship between matter and spirit; and it was a great practice in which spiritual initiative and historical initiative coexisted and interacted.

近期上映的影片《南京照相馆》，剧中人物王广海内心明知当汉奸可耻，却宁肯押注“日本人不可能输”，也不抱“万一日本人输”的念想。艺术源于生活、折射历史。七七事变后，面对不可一世的日军，“亡国论”阴云一度席卷笼罩国人。国民党许多高官持“战必大败”的悲观情绪，普通百姓也担忧“战事何时终了，尚不可能预料，国家兴亡难以断定”。在异常严峻的形势下，中国共产党人展现出坚定的必胜信念，并用这种信念激励全国全军斗志。毛泽东同志告诫国人“我们中华民族有同自己的敌人血战到底的气概，有在自力更生的基础上光复旧物的决心，有自立于世界民族之林的能力”，鼓舞国人“动员了全国的老百姓”就能“造成了弥补武器等等缺陷的补救条件”，昭告国人“日本技术条件虽优，但它终必失败”，要求我军把“进步的政治精神贯注于军队之中”以增加“绝大的战斗力”。当时有报纸写道，“目前举国一致准备拼命自卫的精神，真不是前几年所能想像的。只凭这种精神，即可保证我民族决不至衰亡”。在抗日战争壮阔进程中孕育出的伟大抗战精神感召下，中国人民为国家生存而战、为民族尊严而战的“民气”直冲霄汉，全体军民前赴后继、不畏牺牲，以超过3500万伤亡的巨大代价，筑起保卫家乡、保卫祖国的新长城，矗立起中华民族又一座巍峨的不朽丰碑。站在今天回望，中国军民凭借伟大抗战精神以劣胜优，打败当时“在东方是一等的”日军，绝不是一种幸运、一种偶然，而是正义必胜、和平必胜、人民必胜的历史必然，是正确把握物质与精神关系的科学必然，是精神主动与历史主动共生互动的一次伟大实践。

War is not only a contest of material forces but also a contest of spirit. Our military has always fought with spirit and morale; in the past, relying on that very drive, it defeated one ferocious enemy after another, enemies armed to the teeth. In the New Era, the people’s military has more steel, but it must have even more spirit and even harder backbone. On the new journey, deepening political army building must strengthen the cultivation of fighting spirit, vigorously promote the spiritual quality of daring to fight and being sure of victory, and provide powerful spiritual momentum for accelerating the building of the people’s military into a world-class military. We must grasp ideological and political education as the central link, solidly carry out education on the Marxist view of war, patriotism, and revolutionary heroism, establish a correct view of life and death, hardship and pleasure, and gain and loss, and resolve the fundamental question of “for whom to fight and why to fight”; highlight core content such as faith and conviction, military soul and moral integrity, deeply advance the project of passing on the red gene from generation to generation, and guide officers and soldiers to vigorously promote the dauntless spirit of “fearing neither hardship nor death.” [30]30 “Fearing neither hardship nor death” (一不怕苦、二不怕死) is a slogan originating from the PLA’s revolutionary tradition, famously associated with the spirit of the “Hard-Boned Company” (硬骨头六连) and widely promoted as a core value of military fighting spirit. Adapting to the new challenges and tests that future informationized and intelligent warfare poses to combat capability, confidence in victory, and fighting will, we must integrate the cultivation of fighting spirit into all aspects and the entire process of actual-combat training. Adhere to building the military under the guidance of war and to grasping construction for the sake of war, closely align with combat missions, combat opponents, and combat environments, temper and hone the troops in arduous and strict training, in environments approximating actual combat, and in severe and complex military struggles, strengthen the cultivation of combat style, and allow fighting spirit to be tempered and sublimated in actual-combat training. Fully leverage the enhancing role of the culture of a strong military in sharpening will, tempering style, and strengthening capabilities, unify cultural edification with the cultivation of fighting spirit, create cultural products imbued with a fighting tone, carry out cultural activities brimming with fighting passion, establish the orientation of the culture of a strong military in sharpening the will to fight and achieving victory, and use cultural power to boost combat effectiveness.

战争不仅是物质的较量，更是精神的比拼。我军历来是打精气神的，过去靠着那么一股子劲，打败了一个又一个武装到牙齿的凶狠敌人。新时代的人民军队钢多了，气要更多，骨头要更硬。新征程上，深入推进政治建军必须加强战斗精神培育，大力弘扬敢打必胜的精神品质，为加快把人民军队建成世界一流军队提供强大精神动力。抓紧思想政治教育这个中心环节，扎实开展马克思主义战争观、爱国主义、革命英雄主义教育，树立正确的生死观、苦乐观、得失观，解决好“为谁打仗、为何而战”根本问题；突出信仰信念、军魂气节等核心内容，深入推进红色基因代代传工程，引导官兵大力发扬“一不怕苦、二不怕死”大无畏精神。适应未来信息化智能化战争对作战能力、打赢信心、战斗意志提出的新挑战新考验，把战斗精神培育融入实战化训练各方面全过程。坚持以战领建、抓建为战，紧贴作战任务、作战对手、作战环境，在艰苦严格的训练中、近似实战的环境中、严峻复杂的军事斗争中摔打磨砺部队，强化战斗作风养成，让战斗精神在实战化训练中淬炼升华。充分发挥强军文化在磨砺意志、锤炼作风、增强本领等方面的增益作用，把文化熏陶与战斗精神培育统一起来，创作富有战斗格调的文化产品，开展洋溢战斗激情的文化活动，立起强军文化砺战打赢指向，用文化力助推战斗力提升。

The history of the Chinese revolution is the best textbook and nutrient. The magnificent epic of the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression [31]31 The War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression (抗日战争, 1937–1945) was China’s war of national liberation against the Japanese invasion, led by the CPC in a united front with the Kuomintang, and is a foundational historical narrative for the PLA’s political legitimacy and revolutionary heritage. reveals to us that adhering to political army building is the very foundation for the people’s military to continuously advance from victory to victory. On the new journey, we must fully draw on the rich nourishment of the history of the War of Resistance, better uphold the Party’s absolute leadership over the military, preserve the people’s military’s original aspiration and true character, temper the will and fighting spirit that dares to fight and is sure of victory, forge the heroic people’s military to be even purer, even more glorious, and even more reliable, and provide a firm strategic support for comprehensively advancing the building of a strong country and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-path modernization.

中国革命历史是最好的教科书和营养剂。抗日战争雄壮史诗昭示我们，坚持政治建军是人民军队不断从胜利走向胜利的根本所在。新征程上，我们要充分汲取抗战历史的丰厚滋养，更好坚持党对军队绝对领导，守住人民军队初心本色，锤炼敢打必胜意志斗志，把英雄的人民军队锻造得更加纯洁、更加光荣、更加可靠，为以中国式现代化全面推进强国建设、民族复兴伟业提供坚强战略支撑。

Online editor: Tongxin

网络编辑：同心