The Chinese Communist Party’s External Relations Work during the War of Resistance Against Japan

During the War of Resistance Against Japan, the Chinese Communist Party actively carried out external relations work, introducing to the world the Chinese Communist Party and the Chinese people’s struggle against Japan, and promoting the establishment of a world anti-fascist united front. This kind of engagement was characterized as a kind of “semi-independent diplomacy,” and was an important component of the Chinese Communist Party’s history in the War of Resistance. It not only marked the beginning of the Chinese Communist Party’s entry onto the international stage and played an important role in establishing and consolidating the world anti-fascist united front, but also laid the foundation for diplomacy after the founding of the People’s Republic of China.

抗日战争时期，中国共产党积极开展对外交往工作，向世界介绍中国共产党和中国人民的抗日斗争，推动建立世界反法西斯统一战线。这种交往被定性为一种“半独立性的外交”，是中国共产党抗战历史的一个重要组成部分，不仅标志着中国共产党开始走上国际舞台，对建立和巩固世界反法西斯统一战线发挥了重要作用，而且为中华人民共和国成立后的外交奠定了基础。

I. Opening a Window to Connect with the Outside World

一、打开连接外部世界的窗口

For a long time, apart from the Communist International and the communist parties of countries such as the Soviet Union, the Chinese Communist Party had very few connections with the outside world. Due to various blockades and barriers, the true image of the Chinese Communist Party was unknown to the outside world. In order to win recognition and support from the international community, the Chinese Communist Party, during the War of Resistance, following the policy of “propagate outward, win over,” combined internationalism with patriotism, and independence and self-reliance with seeking foreign assistance, continuously taking measures to open a window connecting with the outside world.

长期以来，除了共产国际和苏联等国的共产党外，中国共产党与外部世界的联系很少。由于受到种种封锁和屏蔽，中国共产党的真实形象不为外部世界所知。为了争取国际社会的认可和支持，中国共产党在抗战时期，按照“宣传出去，争取过来”的方针，把国际主义与爱国主义、独立自主与争取外援结合起来，不断采取措施，打开与外部世界连接的窗口。

In November 1931, the Provisional Central Government of the Chinese Soviet Republic was established in Ruijin, setting up a government structure of “nine ministries and one bureau,” of which the People’s Commissariat for Foreign Affairs was one. In November 1935, the Soviet Central Government’s Northwest Office was established, and in January of the following year, a Foreign Affairs Department was added, under which a Liaison Office was set up. Later, the Liaison Office changed its name and affiliation several times, but its work continued consistently.

1931年11月，中华苏维埃共和国临时中央政府在瑞金成立，设立了“九部一局”的政府机构，外交人民委员部是其中之一。1935年11月，苏维埃中央政府驻西北办事处成立，次年1月增设了外交部，下设交际处。后来，交际处多次改变名称和隶属关系，但工作一直坚持下来。

The Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party formulated for the Liaison Office the reception principle of “welcome those who come, see off those who leave, and welcome again those who return.” The reception standards of the Liaison Office stipulated: “For friendly army officers of the rank of colonel or above, or Party and government personnel at the provincial level or above, as well as international friends who are cultural or technical personnel, they shall stay at the Liaison Office and receive material preferential treatment.” For groups and important guests, banquets were also held, along with welcome and farewell ceremonies, with leaders of the Central Committee or the Border Region Government attending as hosts, receiving guests, holding talks, and answering their questions.

中共中央为交际处制定了“来则欢迎，去则欢送，再来再欢迎”的接待原则。交际处的接待标准规定：“如系上校之友军或者省级以上党政人员及国际友人之文化技术人员，当住交际处并予以物质优待。”对于团体和重要来宾，还要设宴招待，举行欢迎及欢送仪式，中共中央或边区政府的领导人分别出席作陪、接见、谈话，回答来宾的问题。

From 1938 to 1941, the Liaison Office received more than 7,000 guests, including foreign journalists, writers, overseas Chinese, and people from all walks of life, such as Edgar Snow, Helen Foster Snow, Agnes Smedley, Norman Bethune, and others. It also received the World Student Federation delegation, the Indian Medical Mission to China, and the Chinese and Foreign Journalists’ Northwest Observation Group.

从1938年至1941年，交际处共接待了7000余名客人，其中包括外国记者、作家、海外侨胞等各方面人士，如埃德加·斯诺、居姆·韦尔思、艾格尼丝·史沫特莱、诺尔曼·白求恩等，还接待了世界学联代表团、印度援华医疗队、中外记者西北参观团等。

In July 1936, Snow visited Yan’an. Comrade Mao Zedong held several long talks with Snow, elaborating in detail on the situation and strategy of China’s War of Resistance, the domestic policies of the Soviet government, and the relationship between the Chinese Communist Party and the Communist International and the Soviet Union. Over more than two months, Snow also held conversations with comrades such as Zhang Wentian, Bo Gu, Lin Boqu, Xie Juezhai, Ye Jianying, Xiao Jinguang, Cai Shufan, Deng Yingchao, and He Zizhen, collecting a large amount of first-hand material. In October 1936, Snow ended his visit and returned to Beiping, writing the book *Red Star Over China*, which had a huge impact both domestically and internationally. This was a historic breakthrough achieved by the Chinese Communist Party in its external relations work.

1936年7月，斯诺访问延安，毛泽东同志与斯诺进行了多次长时间谈话，详细阐述中国抗日战争的形势、方针，苏维埃政府的对内政策以及中国共产党与共产国际、苏联的关系等问题。在两个多月的时间里，斯诺还先后同张闻天、博古、林伯渠、谢觉哉、叶剑英、萧劲光、蔡树藩、邓颖超、贺子珍等同志进行了交谈，搜集了大量一手资料。1936年10月，斯诺结束访问回到北平，写下《红星照耀中国》一书，在国内外产生巨大影响。这是中国共产党开展对外交往工作取得的一次历史性突破。

Foreign journalists such as Smedley went to the combat zones of the Eighth Route Army and the New Fourth Army to conduct interviews, writing a large number of news reports introducing China’s War of Resistance. In March 1937, during a talk with Smedley, Comrade Mao Zedong stated that we advocated the establishment of a Pacific united front among China, Britain, the United States, France, and the Soviet Union. In February 1938, to support the World Conference for Aid to China and Against Japan held in Britain, the Chinese Communist Party held an anti-aggression conference in Yan’an. Comrade Mao Zedong delivered a speech pointing out that there were now three anti-aggression united fronts: China’s united front, the world’s united front, and the Japanese people’s united front; anti-aggression was the general direction of world politics today.

史沫特莱等外国记者，到八路军和新四军等作战地区采访，写出大量介绍中国抗战的通讯报道。1937年3月，毛泽东同志在同史沫特莱谈话时表示，我们主张中、英、美、法、苏建立太平洋联合战线。1938年2月，为声援在英国召开的世界援华制日大会，中国共产党在延安召开反侵略大会。毛泽东同志发表演讲指出，现在有三个反侵略的统一战线，即中国的统一战线、世界的统一战线、日本人民的统一战线；反侵略是今天世界政治的总方向。

From late June to early July 1938, a delegation of the World Student Federation, led by the Briton James Klugmann, visited Yan’an. Yan’an held welcome meetings and symposiums and provided convenience for their inspection and visit. Comrade Mao Zedong met with the delegation. When asked about the status and role of the Border Region in China, he said that the Border Region was a democratic anti-Japanese base area, which combined the War of Resistance with the democratic system, using the widespread implementation of the democratic system to win victory in the War of Resistance. The significance and role of the Border Region lay in setting an example for the people of the whole country, enabling them to understand that this system was most conducive to resisting Japan and saving the nation, and was the only correct path for resisting Japan and saving the nation. After returning home, the delegation members truthfully publicized everything they had seen in Yan’an. The World Student Federation also allocated special funds to Yan’an, and the Yan’an Student Sanatorium was completed by the end of 1940.

1938年6月底至7月初，以英国人柯乐曼为团长的世界学生联合会代表团访问延安。延安举行了欢迎大会、座谈会，并为他们考察访问提供方便。毛泽东同志会见代表团，在回答关于边区在中国的地位和作用时，他说，边区是一个民主的抗日根据地，它把抗日战争与民主制度结合起来，以民主制度的普遍实行去争取抗日战争的胜利。边区的意义和作用，在于做出一个榜样给全国人民看，使他们懂得这种制度是最有利于抗日救国的，是抗日救国唯一正确的道路。代表团成员回去后，如实宣传了在延安看到的一切。世界学联还给延安专门拨款，于1940年底建成延安学生疗养院。

In April 1940, the representative of the Japanese Communist Party Central Committee in Yan’an, Okano Susumu (also known as Sanzo Nosaka), secretly arrived in Yan’an. He worked in the Japan Research Office under the General Political Department of the Eighth Route Army, assisting in guiding our army’s work regarding Japan, and began organizing Japanese soldiers to carry out anti-war activities. On July 7, 1940, the Yan’an Branch of the Japanese People’s Anti-War League was established, aiming to oppose Japanese imperialist aggression against China and strive for the common liberation of the Chinese and Japanese peoples. In October of the same year, the Chinese Communist Party and Okano Susumu negotiated and decided that the General Political Department of the Eighth Route Army would establish the Japanese Workers and Peasants School in Yan’an to educate Japanese prisoners of war and train anti-war activists, with Okano Susumu serving as principal. While studying at the school, the students helped the Eighth Route Army write slogans and leaflets, publish various Japanese-language textbooks and propaganda materials, and teach Japanese to the Eighth Route Army.

1940年4月，日本共产党中央驻延安代表冈野进（又名野坂参三）秘密到达延安，在八路军总政治部下设的日本问题研究室工作，协助指导我军的对日工作，并着手组织日本士兵开展反战活动。1940年7月7日，成立在华日人反战同盟延安支部，旨在反对日本帝国主义侵略中国，争取中日两国人民共同解放。同年10月，中国共产党与冈野进协商决定，由八路军总政治部在延安筹办日本工农学校，教育日军战俘，培养反战人士，冈野进任校长。学员们在校学习的同时，帮助八路军编写标语传单，出版各种日文教科书和宣传品，为八路军教日语等。

On May 1, 1941, the “Outline of the Administrative Program of the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region,” approved by the Politburo of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, was formally published in the *New China Daily*. This was a document with a fundamental legal character for the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region during the War of Resistance. Its main content involved policies in various areas, including politics, justice, economy, society, ethnicity, and foreign affairs. Article 21 stated that, under the principle of respecting China’s sovereignty and abiding by government decrees, any foreigner would be permitted to travel in the Border Region, participate in anti-Japanese work, or engage in industrial, cultural, and religious activities in the Border Region. This was the general program of our Party’s foreign policy.

1941年5月1日，经中共中央政治局批准的《陕甘宁边区施政纲领》在《新中华报》正式发表。这是抗日战争时期陕甘宁边区带有根本法性质的文件。主要内容涉及政治、司法、经济、社会、民族、外交等各方面的政策。其中第二十一条指出，在尊重中国主权与遵守政府法令的原则下，允许任何外国人到边区游历，参加抗日工作，或在边区进行实业、文化与宗教的活动。这是我党外交政策的总纲。

In early 1943, the United States began to consider establishing contact with the Chinese Communist Party. Comrade Zhou Enlai also repeatedly conveyed to the U.S. government the suggestion to “send American representatives to visit the Communist areas.” On February 9, 1944, Roosevelt cabled Chiang Kai-shek on this matter. After much difficulty, in July and August 1944, the U.S. Army Observer Group, consisting of 18 members, finally went to Yan’an and stayed there for nearly three years. Its members also specifically inspected the anti-Japanese base areas behind enemy lines, such as the Jin-Sui and Jin-Cha-Ji areas. The U.S. Army Observer Group was the first official U.S. government delegation to enter Yan’an. Comrade Mao Zedong and other leaders of the Chinese Communist Party and the military met with members of the U.S. Army Observer Group on multiple occasions, explaining the Chinese Communist Party’s anti-Japanese policies and the relationship between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party. This not only enabled the U.S. military representatives to directly understand the Chinese Communist Party and the people’s army under its leadership, but also began the history of formal contact and cooperation between the Chinese Communist Party and the U.S. government. In early 1944, the Allied powers, led by the United States, proposed through the Chinese Communist Party’s representatives in Chongqing to send journalists to inspect the liberated areas in Yan’an and east of the Yellow River. The Southern Bureau facilitated and arranged this ice-breaking trip. From June to July 1944, the Chinese and Foreign Journalists’ Northwest Observation Group visited Yan’an. The Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party attached great importance to this, and Comrade Zhou Enlai personally took charge of the reception. The foreign journalists reported and publicized in detail the atmosphere of Yan’an and the liberated areas, as well as the achievements of the Eighth Route Army and the New Fourth Army, expanding the Chinese Communist Party’s international influence.

1943年初，美国开始考虑与中国共产党建立联系。周恩来同志也多次向美国政府转达“派美国代表访问共产党地区”的建议。1944年2月9日，罗斯福为此致电蒋介石。经过多番周折，1944年七八月间，美军观察组一行18人终于前往延安，并长驻延安近3年之久。其成员还专门考察了晋绥、晋察冀等敌后抗日根据地。美军观察组是第一个进入延安的美国官方代表团。毛泽东同志等中国共产党和军队领导人多次会见美军观察组成员，阐述中国共产党的抗日政策和国共关系等问题，不仅使美军代表直接了解了中国共产党及其领导下的人民军队，而且开始了中国共产党与美国政府的正式接触和合作的历史。1944年初，以美国为首的同盟国，通过中国共产党驻重庆代表提出派遣记者到延安及黄河以东各解放区考察的要求。南方局促成和安排了这一破冰之旅。1944年6月至7月，中外记者西北参观团对延安进行了访问。中共中央十分重视，周恩来同志亲自负责接待。外国记者翔实报道宣传了延安和解放区的气象以及八路军、新四军的战绩，扩大了中国共产党的国际影响。

On August 18, 1944, the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party specifically issued the “Directive on Diplomatic Work,” clarifying the nature, content, and principled stance of the Party’s diplomatic work. It pointed out that our diplomacy was still “semi-independent diplomacy,” emphasizing that our foreign policy was guided by the thinking of the international united front, with its central content being joint resistance against Japan and the struggle for democracy, to expand our influence. In conducting diplomacy, we must first firmly establish a national stance, opposing two erroneous concepts that had existed for a century on the issue of nationality: xenophobia and the fear of and fawning upon foreigners. On the one hand, we must strengthen national self-respect and self-confidence; on the other hand, we must learn from others’ strengths and be good at cooperating with others.

1944年8月18日，中共中央专门发出《关于外交工作的指示》，阐明党的外交工作的性质、内容和原则立场，指出我们的外交现在还是“半独立性的外交”，强调我们的外交政策是在国际统一战线的思想指导之下，其中心内容是共同抗日与争取民主，扩大我们的影响。我们办外交首先必须站稳民族立场，反对百年来在民族问题上存在的排外和惧外媚外两种错误观念。一方面，要加强民族自尊心自信心；另一方面，要学习人家的长处，善于与人合作。

In September 1944, the U.S. government sent Hurley to China as the personal representative of the U.S. president. In November, Hurley was appointed U.S. ambassador to China. On November 7, Hurley flew to Yan’an and held talks with Comrades Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai, conducting in-depth discussions on the issue of a coalition government. However, because Chiang Kai-shek refused, his mediation was unsuccessful.

1944年9月，美国政府派赫尔利以美国总统私人代表身份来华活动。11月，任命赫尔利为美国驻华大使。11月7日，赫尔利飞抵延安，与毛泽东、周恩来等同志进行会谈，就联合政府问题进行深入商讨。但因蒋介石拒绝，他的斡旋没有成功。

In April 1945, Comrade Mao Zedong pointed out in his political report “On Coalition Government” at the Seventh National Congress of the CPC that the basic principle of the Chinese Communist Party’s foreign policy was to establish and consolidate diplomatic relations with all countries, and to resolve all issues of mutual relations—such as coordinated military operations, peace conferences, trade, investment, etc.—on the basis of thoroughly defeating the Japanese aggressors, maintaining world peace, mutually respecting national independence and equal status, and mutually enhancing the interests and friendship of the countries and peoples involved.

1945年4月，毛泽东同志在党的七大上的政治报告《论联合政府》中指出，中国共产党的外交政策的基本原则，是在彻底打倒日本侵略者，保持世界和平，互相尊重国家的独立和平等地位，互相增进国家和人民的利益及友谊这些基础之上，同各国建立并巩固邦交，解决一切相互关系问题，例如配合作战、和平会议、通商、投资等等。

II. Promoting the Establishment of a World Anti-Fascist United Front

二、推动建立世界反法西斯统一战线

During the War of Resistance, faced with complex international relations, the Chinese Communist Party actively expressed solidarity with and supported the anti-fascist struggles of the peoples of all countries, advocated for the establishment of an Eastern international anti-fascist united front, and promoted the formation of a broad international anti-fascist united front among the peoples of all countries.

抗战期间，面对复杂的国际关系，中国共产党积极声援和支持世界各国人民的反法西斯斗争，倡导建立东方国际反法西斯统一战线，促进各国人民结成广泛的国际反法西斯统一战线。

In March 1937, Comrade Mao Zedong pointed out: “I believe that China, Britain, the United States, France, and the Soviet Union should quickly unite as one, otherwise there is a danger of being defeated one by one by the enemy.” In February 1938, Comrade Mao Zedong further proposed: “Now is the time for China, the United States, and all other countries that oppose the threat of aggression to unite further against the enemy.” The Chinese Communist Party began “semi-independent diplomatic” work, breaking through tangible and intangible barriers and blockades, presenting to the international community the image of a vigorous and democratic major party. Its policies and propositions, along with its heroic resistance efforts, gained considerable recognition from the international community.

1937年3月，毛泽东同志指出：“我以为中、英、美、法、苏五国应该赶快地联合一致，否则有被敌人各个击破之虞。”1938年2月，毛泽东同志又提出：“现在，是中美两国及其他一切反对侵略威胁的国家更进一步联合对敌的时候了。”中国共产党开始“半独立性的外交”工作，打破有形无形的屏障和封锁，向国际社会展示一个充满朝气的民主大党形象，其政策主张和英勇抗战事迹得到国际社会相当程度的认可。

The Southern Bureau of the CPC Central Committee was a secret organ stationed in Chongqing, the seat of the Nationalist government, during the War of Resistance Against Japan and the early period of the War of Liberation. A special mission of the Southern Bureau was to conduct international exchanges and expand the international united front. Following the foreign affairs work policy of “propagate outward, win over inward,” the Southern Bureau made full use of various open and legal channels to extensively contact foreign diplomatic missions and international friends, publicizing the CPC’s anti-Japanese propositions and the actual achievements of the anti-Japanese base areas. This won broad sympathy and support from the international community and international public opinion, expanding the space for the Chinese Communist Party’s activities on the international political stage.

中共中央南方局是抗日战争时期和解放战争初期中共中央派驻国民政府所在地重庆的秘密机关。南方局的一项特殊使命，是开展国际交往，扩大国际统一战线。按照“宣传出去，争取过来”的外事工作方针，南方局充分利用各种公开合法的渠道，与各国外交使团和国际友人广泛接触，宣传中国共产党的抗战主张和抗日根据地的实绩，从而赢得国际社会和国际舆论的广泛同情与支持，为中国共产党拓展了国际政治舞台的活动空间。

Major foreign affairs activities of the Southern Bureau were conducted by leading comrades such as Zhou Enlai, with a dedicated working body established internally. The International Propaganda Group, established before the fall of Wuhan in 1938, was the earliest foreign affairs organ of the Chinese Communist Party after the start of the all-out War of Resistance. Under the principles of the CPC Central Committee’s determination of the anti-Japanese diplomatic policy and “intensifying external propaganda, striving for international aid, and realizing sanctions against Japan,” the Southern Bureau formally established an External Propaganda Group in Chongqing in April 1939, which was renamed the Foreign Affairs Group in the winter of 1940. It was primarily responsible for the CPC’s external exchanges and liaison work, with its main tasks defined as propaganda and making friends, publicizing the Party’s anti-Japanese propositions and policies, understanding the international situation—focusing on the China policies of countries such as the United States and Britain—and the political attitudes and trends of various foreign nationals and sectors in China, in order to influence these countries’ China policies and expand the international united front.

南方局的重大外事活动由周恩来同志等领导人出面，内部设立专门的工作机构。1938年武汉失守前成立的国际宣传组，是全民族抗战开始后中国共产党最早的外事机构。在中共中央确定抗日外交方针和“加紧对外宣传，力争国际援助，实现对日制裁”的原则下，1939年4月南方局在重庆正式设立对外宣传小组，1940年冬改称外事组。主要负责中国共产党的对外交往和联络工作，并规定其主要任务为宣传、交友，宣传党的抗日主张和政策，了解国际形势，重点是美、英等国对华政策，以及各国各界在华人士的政治态度和动向，以影响这些国家的对华政策，扩大国际统一战线。

The outbreak of the Soviet-German War and the Pacific War in 1941 profoundly changed the situation of World War II and also had a major impact on China’s War of Resistance. On June 23, the day after the outbreak of the Soviet-German War, the CPC Central Committee issued the “On the International Anti-Fascist United Front,” instructing the entire Party that “the current task of Communists worldwide is to mobilize the peoples of all countries to organize an international united front, to struggle against fascism, to struggle for the defense of the Soviet Union, the defense of China, and the defense of the freedom and independence of all nations,” and to “unite with all people in Britain, the United States, and other countries who oppose the German, Italian, and Japanese fascist rulers, to oppose the common enemy.” This document was the first time the Chinese Communist Party formally raised the issue of organizing an international anti-fascist united front in its own name. The day after the outbreak of the Pacific War, the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee immediately instructed Comrade Zhou Enlai and others that “after the war between Japan, Britain, and the United States, our policy toward Britain and the United States should be to establish and develop a broad, sincere, anti-Japanese and anti-German united front between the CPC and the British and U.S. governments, and should not show insincerity or narrow-mindedness.”

1941年爆发的苏德战争和太平洋战争，使第二次世界大战的形势发生了深刻变化，也对中国抗战产生重大影响。6月23日，中共中央在苏德战争爆发的第二天即发布《关于反法西斯的国际统一战线》，指示全党，“目前共产党人在全世界的任务是动员各国人民组织国际统一战线，为着反对法西斯而斗争，为着保卫苏联、保卫中国、保卫一切民族的自由和独立而斗争”，要“同英美及其他国家一切反对德意日法西斯统治者的人们联合起来，反对共同的敌人”。这份文件是第一次以中国共产党的名义正式提出组织国际反法西斯统一战线问题。太平洋战争爆发的第二天，中共中央书记处当即指示周恩来同志等，“日、英、美战争后，我对英美方之政策，应当是建立与展开中共与英美政府的广泛的、真诚的、反日反德的统一战线，不应作不真诚与狭隘的表示”。

From October 26 to 31, 1941, the Congress of Eastern Peoples Against Fascism was held in Yan’an, with over 130 representatives from countries and regions including Korea, Japan, India, Vietnam, Burma, Thailand, Malaya, the Philippines, and Indonesia. The congress adopted 19 proposals, the most important of which was the establishment of the Yan’an Eastern Peoples Anti-Fascist League, with its headquarters in Yan’an and branches in various localities, to strengthen the unity of Eastern peoples and expand the anti-fascist movement. Its purpose was to unite the forces of Eastern peoples, establish a solid anti-fascist united front, assist China, the Soviet Union, and all peoples and countries enslaved and oppressed by German, Italian, and Japanese fascism, jointly overthrow the fascist bandits, and strive for the freedom, equality, and liberation of Eastern peoples.

1941年10月26日至31日，东方各民族反法西斯大会在延安召开，来自朝鲜、日本、印度、越南、缅甸、泰国、马来亚、菲律宾、印尼等国家和地区的130多名代表参会。大会通过了19个提案，其中最重要的是成立延安东方各民族反法西斯联盟，总盟设在延安，各地设分盟，以加强东方各民族的团结，扩大反法西斯运动。其宗旨是团结东方各民族的力量，建立巩固的反法西斯统一战线，协助中国、苏联及一切被德意日法西斯奴役压迫的民族和国家，共同打倒法西斯强盗，为东方各民族的自由平等与解放而努力。

On December 9, 1941, the CPC Central Committee issued the “Declaration of the Chinese Communist Party on the Pacific War,” analyzing the current situation and future development of the world fascist front and the anti-fascist front, pointing out that “the final defeat of the fascist front and the final victory of the anti-fascist front are already determined. The Chinese government and people should continue the glorious war of the past five years, resolutely stand on the side of the anti-fascist nations, mobilize all their forces, and struggle for the final overthrow of Japanese fascism.” At the same time, it issued the “Directive of the CPC Central Committee on the Pacific Anti-Japanese United Front,” stating that “the central task of our entire people, all overseas Chinese, and the peoples of Southeast Asia in the War of Resistance is to establish and develop a broad united front of the Pacific peoples against Japan and fascism,” and that “the united front of the Chinese people and the Chinese Communist Party with Britain and the United States is of particularly great significance. On the one hand, cooperating with Britain and the United States to annihilate the Japanese aggressors is a necessary prerequisite for China’s national liberation; on the other hand, China’s internal unity, reform of politics and military affairs, active containment and attack of the enemy, and active preparation for strategic counteroffensive are important conditions for Britain and the United States to defeat the Japanese aggressors. To this end, the Chinese Communist Party should cooperate sincerely and frankly with British and American personnel on various occasions to increase the strength of the British and American war efforts and improve the situation of China’s War of Resistance.”

1941年12月9日，中共中央发出《中国共产党为太平洋战争的宣言》，分析了世界法西斯阵线与反法西斯阵线当前的形势及今后的发展，指出“法西斯阵线的最后失败局面与反法西斯阵线的最后胜利局面是已经确定了。中国政府与人民应该继续过去五年的光荣战争，坚决站在反法西斯国家方面，动员自己一切力量，为最后打倒日本法西斯而斗争”。同时，发布《中共中央关于太平洋反日统一战线的指示》，“我全国人民，全体海外侨胞，及南洋各民族在抗日战争中的中心任务，就是建立与开展太平洋各民族反日反法西斯的广泛统一战线”，“中国人民与中国共产党对英美的统一战线特别有重大的意义。一方面，在与英美合作之下，消灭日寇是中国民族解放的必要前提；他方面，中国内部团结一致，改革政治军事，积极牵制打击敌人，积极准备战略反攻，又是英美战胜日寇的重要条件。为此目的，中国共产党应该在各种场合与英美人士作诚恳坦白的通力合作，以增加英美抗战力量，并改进中国抗战状况”。

The Chinese Communist Party actively carried out anti-fascist struggles on the intelligence front. On the eve of the Soviet-German War in 1941, the CPC Central Committee transmitted to the Soviet Union intelligence from the CPC’s secret intelligence operative Yan Baohui regarding the exact date of the German fascist attack on the Soviet Union. The Soviet Red Army deployed 24 hours in advance, greatly reducing losses. On June 30, the eighth day after the outbreak of the Soviet-German War, Stalin sent a telegram to the CPC Central Committee: “Thank you for providing accurate intelligence on the German attack, which enabled the Soviet Union to enter a state of combat readiness early.” In the summer of 1944, the CPC Central Committee again transmitted to the Soviet Union Yan Baohui’s detailed intelligence on the deployment of the Japanese Kwantung Army along the Sino-Soviet border in Northeast China. Based on the intelligence provided by Yan Baohui, the Soviet Red Army broke through the Kwantung Army’s defense system, which had been built up over more than a decade, in just a few days, completely destroying the Kwantung Army. Between 1944 and 1945, with the approval of the CPC Central Committee, the Guangdong Provincial Temporary Committee of the Chinese Communist Party and the Dongjiang Column under its leadership cooperated in intelligence work with the U.S. and British Allied forces, providing important intelligence on the deployment, movements, and intentions of the Japanese military in South China and Hong Kong, making significant contributions to the support of the world anti-fascist battlefield by the armed forces led by the Chinese Communist Party.

中国共产党积极开展情报战线的反法西斯斗争。1941年苏德战争前夕，中共中央把中共秘密情报人员阎宝航关于德国法西斯进攻苏联准确日期的情报通报给苏联。苏联红军提前24小时部署，大大减少了损失。6月30日，苏德战争爆发后的第8天，斯大林给中共中央发来一封电报：“感谢你们提供了德国进攻的准确情报，使苏联提早进入了战备状态。”1944年夏，中共中央又将阎宝航关于日本关东军在中国东北中苏边境部署的详细情况转给苏联。按阎宝航提供的情报，苏联红军只用了几天时间就全面突破了“关东军”经营十几年的防御体系，彻底摧毁了关东军。1944至1945年间，经中共中央批准，中国共产党广东省临时委员会及其领导下的东江纵队，与美英盟军开展情报合作，提供了许多关于日军在华南和香港部署调动及其意图的重要情报，为中国共产党领导的抗日武装支持世界反法西斯战场作出重要贡献。

III. Contributing to China’s First Entry into the Ranks of Major World Powers Since Modern Times

三、为中国自近代以来第一次跻身世界大国行列作出贡献

During the War of Resistance Against Japan, the Chinese Communists, as the most steadfast advocates and practitioners of the patriotic spirit, became the strong core leading the Chinese people in the struggle for national independence and people’s liberation, and played the role of a mainstay through their political propositions, firm will, and exemplary actions. The victory of China’s War of Resistance Against Japan not only made a major contribution to the World Anti-Fascist War but also raised China’s international status, enabling China to rank among the world’s great powers for the first time since modern times.

抗战时期，中国共产党人作为爱国主义精神最坚定的弘扬者和实践者，以自己的政治主张、坚定意志、模范行动，成为领导中国人民争取民族独立和人民解放的坚强核心，发挥了中流砥柱作用。中国抗日战争的胜利，不仅对世界反法西斯战争作出重大贡献，而且提高了自己的国际地位，使中国自近代以来第一次跻身世界大国行列。

One major outcome of the War of Resistance Against Japan was promoting the founding of the United Nations and making China one of the five permanent members of the Security Council. In January 1942, 26 anti-fascist nations, including the United States, Britain, the Soviet Union, and China, jointly signed the *Declaration by United Nations*, expressing their common resistance to the aggression of the fascist states and their agreement not to make a separate peace with them, which maximally isolated the fascist aggressor forces and played a decisive role in ultimately defeating the fascist states. In October 1943, the Soviet Union, the United States, Britain, and China jointly signed the *Declaration on General Security*, which for the first time proposed the establishment of a universal international organization to maintain international peace and security. From August to September 1944, the United States, Britain, the Soviet Union, and China held the Dumbarton Oaks Conference in Washington, which proposed naming the planned international organization the United Nations and outlined the basic framework of the *United Nations Charter*. The Yalta Conference in February 1945 decided that the United States, Britain, the Soviet Union, and China would jointly sponsor a conference in San Francisco to draft the *United Nations Charter*.

抗日战争的一大成果，是推动创建联合国并使中国成为安理会五大常任理事国之一。1942年1月，美、英、苏、中等26个反法西斯国家共同签署《联合国家宣言》，表示共同抵抗法西斯国家的侵略，决不单独与其议和，最大限度孤立了法西斯侵略势力，对于最后战胜法西斯国家起了决定性作用。1943年10月，苏、美、英、中四国共同签署《关于普遍安全的宣言》，首次倡议建立一个普遍性的国际组织以维持国际和平与安全。1944年8月至9月，美、英、苏、中在华盛顿敦巴顿橡树园举行会议，建议将准备建立的国际组织定名为联合国，规划了《联合国宪章》的基本轮廓。1945年2月雅尔塔会议决定，由美、英、苏、中四国共同发起在旧金山召开会议，制定《联合国宪章》。

China began to form its delegation. Chiang Kai-shek attempted to have the entire delegation monopolized by the Kuomintang government. On February 18, Comrade Zhou Enlai telegraphed Hurley, who was mediating relations between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party, [10]10 Patrick J. Hurley was the U.S. ambassador to China at the time, who attempted to mediate between the Kuomintang and the Chinese Communist Party. raising the legitimate demand to participate in the San Francisco conference and pointing out that a delegation appointed solely by the Kuomintang could not represent China. At the same time, the Chinese Communist Party also made serious representations to the Kuomintang. On March 15, Roosevelt cabled Chiang Kai-shek, stating that the Chinese delegation should include representatives of the Chinese Communist Party. Chiang Kai-shek had no choice but to agree and then demanded that the Chinese Communist Party submit three names for his selection. The Chinese Communist Party proposed Zhou Enlai, Dong Biwu, and Qin Bangxian. [11]11 Qin Bangxian (also known as Bo Gu) was a senior leader of the Chinese Communist Party. In the end, the members of the Chinese delegation were T. V. Soong, Wellington Koo, Wang Chonghui, Wei Daoming, Dong Biwu, Li Huang, Zhang Junmai, Hu Shih, Wu Yifang, and Hu Lin. Among the delegates, there were two members of democratic parties, one representative of the Chinese Communist Party, who together accounted for about one-third, plus three non-party personages.

中国着手组建代表团。蒋介石曾试图由国民党政府一手包办。2月18日，周恩来同志致电正在调停国共关系的赫尔利，提出参加旧金山会议的正当要求，指出仅仅由国民党指派的代表团不能代表中国。同时，中国共产党也向国民党进行了严正交涉。3月15日，罗斯福给蒋介石打电报，表示中国代表团应该有中共代表参加。蒋介石不得不表示同意，遂要求中国共产党提出三个名单供他们选择。中国共产党提出周恩来、董必武、秦邦宪三位人选。最后，中国代表团成员为宋子文、顾维钧、王宠惠、魏道明、董必武、李璜、张君劢、胡适、吴贻芳、胡霖。代表中民主党派成员2人，中共代表1人，合在一起约占三分之一，另外有无党派人士3人。

From April 25 to June 26, 1945, the United Nations Conference on International Organization was held in San Francisco. Comrade Dong Biwu (with secretary Chen Jiakang and journalist Zhang Hanfu), as a member of the Chinese delegation, participated in the conference and played a role. This was also the first time a representative of the Chinese Communist Party attended a major international conference as a full member. Comrade Dong Biwu also took part in and conducted a series of activities in the United States, making extensive contacts with foreign friends, introducing the situation of the Chinese Communist Party, and expanding its influence. Comrade Mao Zedong, in *On Coalition Government*, specifically pointed out: “The Chinese Communist Party welcomes the United Nations congress in San Francisco. It has already sent its own representative to join the Chinese delegation to the San Francisco conference, in order to express the will of the Chinese people.”

1945年4月25日至6月26日，联合国制宪会议在旧金山召开，中共代表董必武同志（秘书陈家康、记者章汉夫）作为中国代表团成员参加会议并发挥作用。这也是中共代表第一次作为正式成员出席重大国际会议。董必武同志还在美国参加和开展了一系列活动，广交外国朋友，介绍中国共产党的情况，扩大中国共产党的影响。毛泽东同志在《论联合政府》中专门指出：“中国共产党欢迎旧金山联合国代表大会。中国共产党已经派遣自己的代表加入中国代表团出席旧金山会议，借以表达中国人民的意志。”

On the morning of June 26, 1945, the signing ceremony of the *United Nations Charter* was held in San Francisco, USA. According to the rules, the permanent members of the Security Council signed first, and China was placed first in order. The United States, as the host country, signed last. The Chinese delegation entered the venue under the gaze of the world. The delegation did not use foreign pens but brought Chinese-style writing brushes, inkstones, and ink, grinding a slab of pure ink on the spot. Then Wellington Koo, who had replaced the chief delegate T. V. Soong, signed. Comrade Dong Biwu, the Chinese Communist Party representative, also signed as a full delegate. This detail of signing with a writing brush had important symbolic significance. This time, China was the first to sign the victorious charter with head held high, and it did so using the iconic method of Chinese civilization. It showed that the role and contribution of the Chinese people in the World Anti-Fascist War had been recognized by the world and had won the world’s respect.

1945年6月26日上午，在美国旧金山举行联合国宪章签字仪式。按规定，安理会常任理事国首先签字，中国按顺序被排在了第一位。美国作为东道国最后签字。中国代表团在全世界的关注之下走进会场。代表团没有使用外国的钢笔，而是带来了中国特有的毛笔、砚台和墨，当场研磨了一砚台纯净的墨汁，然后由接替首席代表宋子文的顾维钧签字。中共代表董必武同志也作为正式代表签了字。这个用毛笔签字的细节具有重要的象征性意义。这一次，是中国昂首挺胸第一个在胜利的宪章上签字，而且使用了中国文明的标志性方式。它表明，中国人民在世界反法西斯战争中的作用和贡献得到了世界的承认，赢得了世界的尊敬。

(Author: Vice President of the Chinese Society of the History of the Chinese Communist Party, former Deputy Director of the Party History Research Center of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party)

（作者：中共党史学会副会长、原中共中央党史研究室副主任）

Online Editor: Tongxin

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