Firmly Steadying the Direction of Research on the War of Resistance Against Japan

On May 7, 2025, President Xi Jinping, on the occasion of his state visit to Moscow, Russia, and his attendance at the commemorative events for the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Soviet Union’s Great Patriotic War, published a signed article in *Rossiyskaya Gazeta* titled “Taking History as a Mirror and Creating a Future Together.” He proposed that we should take history as a mirror, draw wisdom and strength from the profound lessons of World War II and the great victory of the anti-fascist war, adhere to a correct view of WWII history, resolutely uphold the post-war international order, firmly defend international fairness and justice, act as guardians of historical memory, companions in development and rejuvenation, and defenders of international fairness and justice, and join hands to strive for a brighter future for the destiny of humanity.

2025年5月7日，习近平主席在赴莫斯科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周年庆典之际，在《俄罗斯报》发表题为《以史为鉴 共创未来》的署名文章，提出我们要以史为鉴，从第二次世界大战的深刻教训和反法西斯战争的伟大胜利中汲取智慧和力量，坚持正确二战史观，坚决维护战后国际秩序，坚定捍卫国际公平正义，做历史记忆的守护者、发展振兴的同行者、国际公平正义的捍卫者，携手为人类前途命运争取更加光明的未来。

In research on the War of Resistance Against Japan, we should resist two serious erroneous tendencies. The first is to negate the historical facts of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CPC) persistence in the War of Resistance, erasing the CPC’s historical status and important role in the war. The second is to ignore the great contributions of China’s War of Resistance to the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War, advocating or deliberately exaggerating the role of the United States, Britain, and other countries in defeating the fascist powers of Germany, Italy, and Japan, thereby seriously interfering with the historical memory and understanding of the War of Resistance among some members of the public, especially young people. To accelerate the construction of the “three systems” [1]1 The “three systems” refer to the disciplinary system, academic system, and discourse system of a field of study, a framework promoted in Chinese academia to establish independent and authoritative knowledge structures. of the discipline of War of Resistance history and to build an independent knowledge system for War of Resistance history, we must adhere to historical materialism, uphold Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, deeply study and elaborate on General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important discourses on the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japan and the World Anti-Fascist War, and firmly steady the direction of research on the War of Resistance.

在抗战史研究中，我们应该抵制两种严重的错误倾向。一是虚无中国共产党坚持抗战的史实，抹杀中国共产党在抗战中的历史地位和重要作用。二是无视中国抗战为世界反法西斯战争胜利作出的伟大贡献，鼓吹或刻意夸大美英等国在战胜德意日法西斯中的作用，严重干扰部分民众尤其是青少年的历史记忆与抗战认识。加快构建抗战史学科“三大体系”，建构抗战史自主知识体系，必须坚持唯物史观，坚持以习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想为指导，深入研究阐释习近平总书记关于中国人民抗日战争暨世界反法西斯战争的重要论述，牢牢把稳抗战史研究的方向。

Fully recognize the significant importance of the September 18th Incident [2]2 The September 18th Incident (1931) was a staged event where the Japanese Kwantung Army blew up a section of railway near Mukden (Shenyang) and blamed Chinese troops, using it as a pretext to invade and occupy Northeast China. as the prelude to the World Anti-Fascist War

充分认识九一八事变揭开了世界反法西斯战争序幕的重要意义

On September 3, 2014, General Secretary Xi Jinping delivered an important speech at the symposium commemorating the 69th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japan and the World Anti-Fascist War: “The September 18th Incident became the starting point of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japan and unveiled the prelude to the World Anti-Fascist War.” This not only emphasizes the important status of the September 18th Incident in the history of China’s War of Resistance but also highlights its special significance in the World Anti-Fascist War.

2014年9月3日，习近平总书记在纪念中国人民抗日战争暨世界反法西斯战争胜利69周年座谈会上发表重要讲话：“九一八事变成为中国人民抗日战争的起点，并揭开了世界反法西斯战争的序幕。”不仅强调九一八事变在中国抗战史上的重要地位，而且突出了九一八事变在世界反法西斯战争中的特殊意义。

On September 18, 1931, Japan provoked the September 18th Incident, rapidly occupying Northeast China, with the intention of dominating China and then the world. The Chinese people bravely resisted the Japanese invasion, firing the first shot of the War of Resistance, unveiling the prelude to World War II and the World Anti-Fascist War, and opening the world’s first large-scale anti-fascist battlefield. There are multiple views in Chinese and foreign academic circles on the starting point of World War II. Among them, the claim that the German invasion of Poland in September 1939 marked the outbreak of World War II is the most widespread, but an increasing number of Chinese and foreign scholars believe that World War II began with the September 18th Incident in 1931. After all, from the very beginning, the September 18th Incident possessed distinct characteristics of anti-colonial, anti-oppressive national liberation and global anti-fascist aggression and expansion, serving as a concentrated expression of the long-standing resistance of people worldwide against colonial rule.

1931年9月18日，日本挑起九一八事变，迅速侵占中国东北地区，意在独霸中国、称霸世界。中国人民奋勇抵抗日本侵略，打响了抗日战争第一枪，揭开了第二次世界大战暨世界反法西斯战争的序幕，开辟了世界上首个大规模反法西斯战场。中外学术界关于第二次世界大战起点有多种观点，其中1939年9月德国闪击波兰标志着第二次世界大战爆发的说法流传最广，但越来越多的中外学者认为第二次世界大战始于1931年九一八事变。毕竟九一八事变从一开始就具有鲜明的反殖民、反压迫的民族解放性质和反法西斯侵略扩张的全球性特征，是世界各国人民长期以来反抗殖民统治的集中体现。

Accurately understand that the Chinese Communist Party was the mainstay of the War of Resistance

准确理解中国共产党是抗日战争的中流砥柱

After the September 18th Incident, facing the massive Japanese offensive and the fall of Northeast China, the CPC was the first to raise the banner of resistance, inspiring the fighting spirit of the entire nation. On April 15, 1932, the Provisional Central Government of the Chinese Soviet Republic issued the “Declaration of War Against Japan,” proposing to drive Japanese imperialism out of China through a national revolutionary war.

九一八事变后，面对日军大举进攻和东北沦陷，中国共产党率先擎起抗日大旗，振奋了全国人民的抗战精神。1932年4月15日，中华苏维埃共和国临时中央政府发布《对日战争宣言》，提出以民族革命战争把日本帝国主义驱逐出中国。

In July 1934, the CPC dispatched the Seventh Army Corps of the Red Army under the name of the “Anti-Japanese Vanguard” to “go north to resist Japan.” At the same time, the CPC went deep behind enemy lines, supported the Northeast Anti-Japanese Volunteer Army, and organized the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army, dealing heavy blows to the Japanese puppet regime and strengthening the nation’s confidence in resisting Japan, until after the July 7th Incident [3]3 The July 7th Incident (1937), also known as the Marco Polo Bridge Incident, was a clash between Chinese and Japanese troops near Beijing that escalated into full-scale war between China and Japan., it gathered the immense force of the entire nation’s War of Resistance. The CPC proposed and facilitated the establishment of the broadest possible Anti-Japanese National United Front, consistently upholding resistance against Japan and opposing capitulation, upholding unity and opposing division, upholding progress and opposing regression, always maintaining the Anti-Japanese National United Front, actively participating in establishing the International Anti-Fascist United Front, and consistently guiding the correct political direction of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance, becoming the fundamental political guarantee for the ultimate victory of the entire nation’s War of Resistance.

1934年7月，中国共产党派遣红军第七军团以抗日先遣队的名义“北上抗日”。同时，中国共产党深入敌后，支持东北抗日义勇军，组建东北抗日联军，给予日伪沉重打击，坚定了全国人民的抗战信心，直至七七事变后汇聚起全民族抗战的磅礴力量。中国共产党提出并促成最广泛的抗日民族统一战线的建立，始终坚持抗战、反对投降，坚持团结、反对分裂，坚持进步、反对倒退，始终维护抗日民族统一战线，积极参与建立国际反法西斯统一战线，始终引领中国人民抗日战争正确的政治方向，成为全民族抗战最终胜利的根本政治保障。

The CPC and the anti-Japanese military and civilians under its leadership persisted in protracted warfare, opening up vast enemy rear areas, which cooperated with and supported the frontal battlefield, jointly forging the great victory of the Chinese nation’s War of Resistance. With its unshakable political leadership, unwavering faith in resistance, indomitable courage in the fight, and relentless struggle, the CPC became the mainstay of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance.

中国共产党及其领导的抗日军民坚持持久抗战，开辟了广阔的敌后战场，与正面战场相互配合、相互支援，共同铸就了中华民族抗战的伟大胜利。中国共产党以其坚强无比的政治领导、坚定不移的抗战信念、坚韧不拔的抗战勇气、坚持不懈的抗战斗争，成为中国人民抗日战争的中流砥柱。

Firmly grasp that the China theater was the main Eastern battlefield of the World Anti-Fascist War

牢牢把握中国战场是世界反法西斯战争的东方主战场

From the September 18th Incident in September 1931 to the Italian fascist invasion of Ethiopia in October 1935, the China theater was the world’s only anti-fascist battlefield. Then, until the outbreak of the Pacific War in December 1941, for a full ten years, the China theater was the only anti-fascist battlefield in the East. The China theater was the battlefield in World War II that began earliest, lasted the longest, and incurred the greatest casualties. According to statistics, during the War of Resistance, Chinese military and civilian casualties reached 35 million people; calculated at 1937 prices, direct economic losses amounted to 100 billion US dollars and indirect economic losses to 500 billion US dollars. However, the indomitable Chinese people not only shattered the Japanese invaders’ arrogant plans for a “quick victory” and to “conquer China in three months” but also consistently pinned down the main forces of the Japanese Army, bogging them down in the China theater and making it difficult for them to withdraw.

从1931年9月九一八事变到1935年10月意大利法西斯入侵埃塞俄比亚，中国战场是世界上唯一的反法西斯战场，再到1941年12月太平洋战争爆发，整整十年，中国战场是东方唯一的反法西斯战场。中国战场是第二次世界大战中开始最早、持续时间最长、付出伤亡最大的战场。据统计，抗战期间中国军民伤亡达3500万人；按1937年比价，造成直接经济损失1000亿美元、间接经济损失5000亿美元。但是，顽强不屈的中国人民不仅打破了日本侵略者“速战速决”“三个月灭亡中国”的狂妄计划，而且始终抗击着日本陆军主力，使之深陷中国战场，难以抽身。

Thus, the containment of the China theater thwarted the Japanese Army’s “northern advance” plan, effectively supporting the Soviet Union’s Great Patriotic War; delayed the Japanese invaders’ “southern advance” policy, effectively coordinating with the Allied Southeast Asia theater; shattered the Japanese Imperial Headquarters’ delusional “western advance” plan to link up with Germany and Italy in Central Asia, effectively cooperating with the Allied “Europe First” strategy, and played a key role in defeating German and Italian fascism and forcing Japan’s unconditional surrender. It was truly the main Eastern battlefield.

可见，中国战场的牵制，粉碎了日本陆军的“北进”计划，有力支援了苏联的卫国战争；延缓了日本侵略者的“南进”政策，有效策应了盟国的东南亚战场；打破了日本大本营妄图与德意会师中亚的“西进”梦想，切实配合了盟国“先欧后亚”战略，为打败德意法西斯和迫使日本无条件投降发挥了关键性作用，是当之无愧的东方主战场。

Resolutely uphold the post-war international order centered on the United Nations Charter and its principles

坚决维护战后以《联合国宪章》和原则为核心的国际秩序

On September 3, 2015, General Secretary Xi Jinping delivered an important speech at the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japan and the World Anti-Fascist War, emphasizing that “all countries should jointly uphold the international order and system centered on the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, actively build a new type of international relations based on win-win cooperation, and jointly advance the noble cause of world peace and development.” This is a valuable lesson drawn from the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japan and the World Anti-Fascist War, and a practical requirement for world peace and development.

2015年9月3日，习近平总书记在纪念中国人民抗日战争暨世界反法西斯战争胜利70周年大会上发表重要讲话，强调“世界各国应该共同维护以联合国宪章宗旨和原则为核心的国际秩序和国际体系，积极构建以合作共赢为核心的新型国际关系，共同推进世界和平与发展的崇高事业”。这是从中国人民抗日战争暨世界反法西斯战争中得出的宝贵经验，是世界和平发展的现实要求。

As early as during the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japan and the World Anti-Fascist War, the leaders of major powers such as the United States, Britain, and the Soviet Union met multiple times regarding post-war arrangements and the international order, deciding to establish the United Nations. The United Nations Charter officially came into effect on October 24, 1945, reflecting the beautiful aspirations of people worldwide to oppose war and pursue peace. The historical verdicts originally established through the post-war Nuremberg Trials and Tokyo Trials have, however, with the Cold War confrontation and the fading of historical memory, seen historical revisionist rhetoric in both Germany and Japan that relativizes their own guilt or denies war responsibility and distorts the historical facts of aggression. Even the field of War of Resistance history has become a severely affected area where historical nihilism runs rampant. “Forgetting history means betrayal, and denying guilt means repeating the crime.” [4]4 This is a direct quotation from a speech by Chinese leader Xi Jinping, echoing a common aphorism about the dangers of historical amnesia. Faced with those at home and abroad with ulterior motives who negate the historical facts of the CPC’s persistence in the War of Resistance and its role as the mainstay, and who erase the great contributions and historical status of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance, we must resolutely defend the victorious achievements of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japan and the World Anti-Fascist War, firmly uphold the post-war international order and international system, and never allow fascism to stage a comeback, nor allow historical tragedies to repeat themselves!

早在中国人民抗日战争暨世界反法西斯战争期间，美英苏等大国首脑就战后安排和国际秩序多次会晤，决定成立联合国。1945年10月24日《联合国宪章》正式生效，集中反映了全世界人民反对战争、追求和平的美好愿望。原本经过战后纽伦堡审判、东京审判的历史定论，却随着冷战对峙和历史记忆的淡化，无论德国还是日本都曾出现本国罪责相对化或否认战争责任、歪曲侵略史实的历史修正主义言论，甚至抗战史研究领域竟成了历史虚无主义泛滥的重灾区。“忘记历史就意味着背叛，否认罪责就意味着重犯。”面对国内外别有用心者虚无中国共产党坚持抗战的历史史实与中流砥柱作用，抹杀中国人民抗日战争的伟大贡献和历史地位，我们必须坚决捍卫中国人民抗日战争暨世界反法西斯战争的胜利成果，坚定维护战后国际秩序和国际体系，决不允许法西斯主义卷土重来，决不允许历史悲剧重演！

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japan and the World Anti-Fascist War. We must, at this new historical starting point, systematically review and sort out the academic history of eighty years of research on the War of Resistance, set out anew on the basis of self-examination and academic reflection, and courageously assume the new mission of promoting the flourishing development of the discipline of War of Resistance history in the New Era. First, we must accelerate the construction of the disciplinary system, academic system, and discourse system of Chinese War of Resistance history for the New Era, and actively promote new breakthroughs in research on War of Resistance history in terms of academic achievements, material excavation, research methods, and disciplinary theory. Second, we must accelerate the construction of an independent knowledge system for the discipline of Chinese War of Resistance history, strive to produce original concepts and iconic achievements, forge a War of Resistance historical discourse narrative with Chinese characteristics, vigorously clear away the fog of historical nihilism [5]5 historical nihilism: A term used in official Chinese discourse to refer to attempts to reinterpret or question the orthodox narrative of modern Chinese history, particularly the role of the Communist Party of China and the nature of the War of Resistance., and resolutely refute erroneous statements and actions at home and abroad that distort the history of the War of Resistance and beautify the history of aggression. This is the historical responsibility and mission of the times for contemporary Chinese scholars. Third, we must uphold fundamental principles and break new ground [6]6 uphold fundamental principles and break new ground: A translation of the Chinese four-character idiom 守正创新 (shou zheng chuang xin), which combines the idea of maintaining core principles with the need for innovation and adaptation., break down disciplinary barriers, comprehensively apply digital technologies such as big data, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence to the collation and study of War of Resistance historical materials, and promote the iterative upgrading of War of Resistance historical research and disciplinary construction. Fourth, we must adhere to the principle of seeking truth and facts [7]7 seeking truth from facts: A core principle of the Chinese Communist Party’s epistemology, derived from Mao Zedong’s interpretation of Marxist materialism, emphasizing the need to base policy and analysis on objective reality., transmit correct historical memory of the War of Resistance, firmly establish and popularize a correct view of War of Resistance history, thereby eliminating the impure and promoting the pure, radically reforming and setting things right, consolidating the foundation and cultivating the root [8]8 eliminating the impure and promoting the pure, radically reforming and setting things right, consolidating the foundation and cultivating the root: A series of three four-character idioms (激浊扬清, 正本清源, 固本培元) used in Chinese political rhetoric to describe the process of ideological and institutional purification and strengthening., carry forward the great spirit of the War of Resistance, and gather the mighty force of Chinese sons and daughters around the world to actively devote themselves to the great cause of building a strong country and 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，我们必须在新的历史起点上系统复盘和梳理80年来抗日战争研究的学术史，在自我剖析和学术反思的基础上重新出发，勇于承担新时代抗战史学科繁荣发展的新使命。一是加快构建新时代中国抗战史学科体系、学术体系、话语体系，积极推动抗战史研究在学术成果、资料发掘、研究方法、学科理论等方面取得新的突破。二是加快建构中国抗战史学科自主知识体系，努力推出原创性概念、标识性成果，打造具有中国特色的抗战史话语叙事，大力廓清历史虚无主义的迷雾，坚决批驳国内外歪曲抗战史、美化侵略史的错误言行，这是中国当代学人的历史责任和时代使命。三是守正创新，打破学科壁垒，综合运用大数据、云计算、人工智能等数字科技参与抗战史料整理与研究，推动抗战史研究和学科建设迭代升级。四是坚持求真求实原则，传递正确的抗战历史记忆，树牢并普及正确的抗战史观，从而激浊扬清、正本清源、固本培元，弘扬伟大的抗战精神，凝聚全世界中华儿女积极投身强国建设、民族复兴伟业的磅礴伟力！

(The author is a researcher at the Research Center for the Disciplinary System, Academic System, and Discourse System of Chinese Historical Science, Chinese Academy of History)

（作者系中国历史研究院中国历史学学科体系学术体系话语体系研究中心研究员）

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