Liu Guangming and Peng Chunlin: Upholding a Correct Perspective on the History of World War II
“History is the biography of nations and of humanity.” Recently, during his state visit to Russia and his attendance at the celebrations commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Soviet Union’s Great Patriotic War, President Xi Jinping emphasized the need to “uphold a correct perspective on the history of World War II” and to “jointly promote a correct perspective on the history of World War II.” This provides the fundamental guidance for us to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the Soviet Union's Great Patriotic War, and the World Anti-Fascist War with a correct stance and attitude. We must take history as a mirror, drawing wisdom and strength from the profound lessons of the Second World War and the great victory of the anti-fascist war to jointly create a better future for humanity.
1. Fully recognizing the profound significance of promoting a correct perspective on the history of WWII
History may gradually recede into the distance, but its inspirations and lessons remain forever present; as long as people view it with an attitude of respecting history, taking history as a mirror, and creating a future together, no controversy over right and wrong will arise. However, in today’s world, where unilateralism, hegemony, and bullying [1] cause deep harm, some individuals attempt to use history to serve the practical needs of geopolitical struggles. They maliciously promote historical nihilism [2] and distort history, proposing theoretical viewpoints regarding WWII history that depart from historical facts and human conscience, creating a public opinion clamor to assault the existing international order. Against such a contemporary backdrop, our promotion of a correct perspective on WWII history holds particular and significant importance.
An inevitable requirement for remaining firm guardians of historical memory. Historical memory and truth are inscribed in the hearts of the people and do not fade with the passage of time. To forget or distort history is to commit betrayal. The history of WWII records the crimes of war: the notorious genocide of the Auschwitz concentration camp, the tragic and barbaric slaughter of the Nanjing Massacre, and the forced labor of massive numbers of prisoners of war and civilians in occupied areas under extreme, grueling conditions... These atrocities of war are engraved in the annals of humanity and the hearts of mankind. All words and deeds that deny the aggressive nature of the war, all attempts to distort or even beautify the war of aggression, and all efforts to evade the historical responsibility for the war of aggression—regardless of the form they take or how high-sounding their rhetoric—are merely self-deception. The history of WWII records the great achievements of the righteous anti-fascist forces. The victorious fruits of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the Soviet Union's Great Patriotic War, and the World Anti-Fascist War are beyond doubt. The sacrifices made by tens of millions for independence, freedom, and peace cannot be denied. No plot to distort the truth of WWII history, deny its victorious fruits, or smear the historical achievements of China and the Soviet Union will ever succeed. Although today's people did not write yesterday’s history, they cannot grasp today or create tomorrow in isolation from it. Only by correctly understanding this history can we avoid repeating past mistakes, draw valuable experience, and better forge the future.
An inevitable requirement for remaining firm partners in development and rejuvenation. For a nation to prosper and progress, it must advance within the logic of historical progress and develop within the tide of the times. From the perspective of long-term historical cycles, headwinds and "counter-currents" [3] cannot reverse the general trend of historical development; no protectionist act can block the historical tide of human unity and progress. Eighty years ago, the righteous forces of the world fought heroically with shared hatred for a common enemy, defeating the once-overbearing fascist powers side-by-side. That decisive battle between justice and evil, light and darkness, and progress and reaction showed us that prejudice, discrimination, hatred, and war bring only disaster and pain. Mutual respect, equal coexistence, peaceful development, and win-win cooperation are the only "Right Way" [4] for humanity. Only by viewing WWII history in this manner can we consciously discard the obsolete logic that "a strong country must seek hegemony" [5], conform to the general trend of human social development, and move in the same direction as all peace-loving forces. Today, eighty years later, humanity once again stands at a crossroads between unity or division, dialogue or confrontation, and win-win or zero-sum games. Whether they are the people of countries that bravely resisted aggression or the people of countries that launched it, whether they are those who lived through that era or those born after it, all must uphold a correct perspective on WWII history and keep its inspirations and lessons firmly in mind. To believe that because one is "big and strong" one can run amok, coerce, or blackmail in the international community is a mockery of history and an insult to human conscience, and will inevitably lead to a loss of trust among the world’s people.
An inevitable requirement for remaining firm defenders of international equity and justice. At a deeper level, behind one's view of history lies one’s view of morality and values. When those who hold erroneous moral views and values look at history, they often flip black and white and confuse right and wrong. In the face of facts and public interest, all acts of "speaking sheer nonsense" [6] or "calling a wooden pole a pillar" [7] are in vain. We must not forget that eighty years ago, for the sake of freedom, justice, and peace, and for the safety, tranquility, and happiness of the people, across the battlefields of Asia, Europe, Africa, and Oceania, the armies and peoples of the Allied nations and various anti-fascist forces stepped into the same trenches to gather a powerful force to "turn back the raging tide" [8]. The trials of Nazi German war criminals by the International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg, and the trials of Japanese war criminals by the International Military Tribunal for the Far East and military tribunals in countries like China and the Soviet Union, ensured that the culprits who launched the war of aggression and whose hands were stained with the blood of the people received their due punishment, pinning these war criminals to the "pillar of historical shame" forever. This also revealed a great truth to the world: Justice will prevail! Peace will prevail! The people will prevail! Our promotion of a correct perspective on WWII history is a warning to those who still despise historical facts and international justice: we will never allow international equity and justice to be trampled upon, nor will we allow the tragedy of history to repeat itself.
2. Scientifically grasping the essential connotations of a correct perspective on WWII history
The historical perspective that contemplates WWII history by "choosing to stand on the right side of history and the side of equity and justice" is, in essence, the materialist or "Greater Perspective on History" [9]. The reason a correct perspective on WWII history is "correct" is that it is based on scientific truth, follows the laws of human social development, and represents the fundamental interests of the broadest masses of people and the direction of human civilization's development.
Adhering to the position of the people as the historical subjects who won the great victory. The people are the creators of history; their pursuit of a happy life is the most enduring and profound force driving the progress of human civilization. Viewed through such a lens of historical materialism and the Greater Perspective on History, the history of the World Anti-Fascist War was, in the final analysis, created by the people of the world—including those of China and the Soviet Union—exercising their "historical initiative." Taking the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression as an example: the barbaric aggression of Japanese militarism ignited the courageous resistance of the Chinese people. The September 18th Incident [10] became the starting point of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance and raised the curtain on the World Anti-Fascist War. The July 7th Incident [11] marked the beginning of China's full-scale national resistance, thereby opening the main theater of the World Anti-Fascist War in the East. Within the global conflict, China’s resistance began the earliest and lasted the longest; as the primary Asian theater, China played a decisive role in the total collapse of the Japanese aggressors. This decisive role, much like that of the Soviet Union on the European battlefield and the United States on the Pacific battlefield, is beyond doubt. Unquestionably, the offensives by US and British Allied forces against Japan in the Asia-Pacific region, the participation of Soviet troops in operations against Japan in Northeast China, and the struggles of the people in various Southeast Asian countries and regions against Japanese aggression all contributed to the defeat of Japanese fascism; however, this in no way changes China’s status as the principal Asian theater of the Second World War.
Adhering to the historical truth revealed by authentic data of WWII. One must "see through the phenomenon to the essence." To see the essence, one requires both deep theoretical cultivation and the support of data. Data is an objective, quantitative description of things that can exclude the interference of subjective factors and provide detailed, accurate information. Through the analysis of large amounts of data, people can discover the internal connections and laws between things, as well as the truth beneath the surface. A correct perspective on WWII history insists on letting the data speak to clarify ironclad historical facts. Calculated by Japanese army divisional strength, the Chinese theater pinned down and resisted the largest number of Japanese forces. From the July 7th Incident to the end of the resistance, the annual deployment of the Japanese army to the China theater exceeded 90% of its total strength in the peak years, and focused around 35% in the lowest year, averaging over 70% annually across the eight years. China destroyed the largest number of the Japanese military's effective strength: during the War of Resistance, a total of over 1.5 million Japanese troops were killed, wounded, or captured; after Japan’s defeat, more than 1.28 million Japanese troops surrendered to China. China made immense sacrifices to defeat Japanese fascism, with military and civilian casualties reaching 3500 million. This data fully proves that China was the primary Asian battlefield of WWII and the "mainstay" [12] in the fight against Japanese militarism. Because the main force of the Japanese army was "pinned down on the Chinese battlefield, unable to move a single step," the Japanese military was forced to abandon its "Northern Advance" strategy to link up with German forces, and its "Southern Advance" strategy was also greatly delayed. This held strategic significance for the Soviet Union’s victory over German fascism in Europe and for the US and British Allied victory in the Pacific.
Adhering to a strategic mindset and breadth of vision regarding a shared future for humanity. For a long time, influenced by deep-rooted "Western-centrism" and "racial exceptionalism," some Western historians have often held arrogance and prejudice when researching the World Anti-Fascist War. They highlight the anti-fascist struggles of countries like the US and the UK but fail to fully reflect the vital roles of the Chinese People's War of Resistance and the Soviet Union's Great Patriotic War, ignoring the immense contributions and sacrifices made by China and the Soviet Union. This erroneous perspective on WWII history is, in substance, a variant of Western Social Darwinism and imperialist ideology. Years ago, German, Italian, and Japanese fascists vainly attempted to use the concept of "superior races" to enslave or even exterminate so-called "inferior races" and seize other nations’ territories for their own development. In response, the righteous forces of the international community formed an anti-fascist united front, achieved a great victory, and established a correct perspective on WWII history rooted in human conscience. However, as the Cold War mentality, power politics, and hegemonic expansion return, some in the West have begun to smuggle in the "private goods" [13] of "national interests first" and geopolitical calculations, artificially filtering and tailoring the history of WWII to create an erroneous historical perspective. The correct perspective on WWII history takes a clear-cut stand against such errors and possesses a broad vision that contemplates WWII history from the height of human civilization's progress. This is a way of thinking and observation that takes the overall interests and shared destiny of all humanity as its starting point and focus. With such a vision, one can look at the history and civilizations of other countries, regions, and ethnic groups with an attitude of equity, justice, equality, humility, and respect.
3. Promoting a correct perspective on WWII history with a high-reaching vision and a spirit of struggle
Every act of remembrance is a transmission of memory; every commemoration is a spiritual baptism. History cannot be changed, but the future can be shaped. At a new historical starting point, we must use a high-reaching perspective and a "spirit of struggle" [14] to polish the mirror of WWII history to reflect the future. This is not only a respect for history and a persistence in justice but also a courageous "shouldering of responsibility" [15] for the future in a turbulent world.
Promoting a correct perspective on WWII history with a heart full of enthusiasm for the light. History tells us that light will surely dispel darkness and justice will eventually triumph over evil. To promote a correct perspective on WWII history, we must always uphold the firm belief that "the power of justice lives forever, and the light of peace shines eternally." We must broadly establish an international united front of public opinion characterized by "iron shoulders bearing the weight of justice" [16] to jointly resist acts that beautify the Nazis and their accomplices, the rise of neo-Nazism, the restoration of militarism, and the fueling of various forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and exclusion. We must maximize the historical consensus that "every inch the light advances, the darkness retreats a step," and firmly occupy the "moral high ground" [17] in international discourse. We must scientifically grasp the general trend of human civilization's development, propagate a correct perspective on WWII history, recount history comprehensively and truthfully, profoundly reflect on the atrocities of war, strengthen peace education, and firmly establish a "coordinate system" of anti-fascist civilizational consensus. We must directly confront all ugly phenomena and dark sides that attempt to "paint and powder" [18] the face of fascism or "call back the souls" [19] of militarism to overturn historical verdicts. We must directly confront all actions that attempt to "turn back the wheel of history" to the dark age where "might makes right," having the courage to clash and "unsheathe the sword" [20] to "wash away the turbid and bring forth the clear" [21] and set the record straight.
Promote a correct perspective on the history of World War II with a sense of justice that holds history in awe. A future without history is like a wild horse that no force can rein in. Any acts of distorting or falsifying history constitute a provocation against facts and common principles, and a desecration of the righteous sentiments of humanity. To promote a correct perspective on World War II history, we must adhere to the Marxist historical materialism, conduct in-depth research and interpretation of President Xi Jinping's important expositions, and firmly grasp the correct direction of research into the history of World War II and the War of Resistance [22]. We must let history speak and use facts to voice the truth, collectively opposing attempts to tamper with history and upholding the correct historical narrative. We must uphold historical conscience and a sense of justice, resolutely defending the historical facts of the immense sacrifices and contributions made by countries such as China and the Soviet Union in defeating fascism and militarism. We must continue to hold educational and commemorative activities in various forms, further excavate and research evidence and historical materials regarding the crimes of Nazi Germany and Japanese militarism during World War II, and jointly hold commemorative events at the sites where events that changed the course of World War II occurred. We must state clearly that our "eyes cannot tolerate a single grain of sand" [23], resolutely opposing acts that commodify or misinterpret history, and strongly condemning the desecration or destruction of memorial facilities for World War II martyrs.
Promote a correct perspective on the history of World War II with a creative spirit that carves out the future. Engels once said: "There is no great historical evil without a compensating historical progress." We revisit these memories of blood and tears and remember historical lessons not to perpetuate hatred or create confrontation, but to awaken the world's longing for and commitment to peace. From the proposal of the concept of building a community with a shared future for humanity to the three Global Initiatives [24], China is proving through practical action what it means to persist in and defend a correct perspective on World War II history. China provides the world with Chinese solutions that transcend zero-sum games [25] and promotes the development of the international order in a more just and reasonable direction. To promote a correct perspective on World War II history with a spirit of carving out the future, we must inherit the historical responsibility shown by the World Anti-Fascist Alliance as they fought side-by-side. We must work together to solve global development problems, actively shape a favorable environment for development, maintain the stability of global industrial and supply chains, and promote balanced, coordinated, and inclusive global development, so that the fruits of development better benefit the people of all countries. In addressing international security challenges, we must resolutely safeguard the post-war international order and the authority of the United Nations, promote the effective implementation of the Global Security Initiative [26], and build a balanced, effective, and sustainable security architecture. We must forge a new path of security characterized by dialogue rather than confrontation, partnership rather than alliance, and win-win results rather than zero-sum games. In promoting exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations, we must discard arrogance and prejudice, understand the perceptions of different civilizations regarding value connotations with a broad mind, and let the exchange of civilizations transcend estrangement, mutual learning transcend conflict, and inclusiveness transcend superiority. This will promote mutual understanding and affinity among the people of all nations, jointly advancing the development and progress of human civilization.
(Authors: Liu Guangming and Peng Chunlin are researchers at the Xi Jinping New Era Chinese Characteristics Socialist Ideology Research Center of the National Defence University) Online Editor: Tong Xin Source: Guangming Daily, May 15, 2025, Page 6