Liu Benson: Uphold a Correct Perspective on the History of World War II

World War II profoundly altered the course of world history and established the post-war international order centered on the United Nations. In today's world, eighty years after the victory of World War II, the rise of unilateralism and the intensification of geopolitical conflicts have severely impacted the basic consensus of the international community regarding World War II issues. There is an urgent need to adhere to and promote a correct historical outlook on World War II. Adhering to this outlook means taking respect for historical facts as the fundamental prerequisite, opposing all forms of historical nihilism ^[1], resolutely safeguarding the international order based on the Charter of the United Nations, shaping and disseminating a complete collective memory of the war, and drawing lessons from history to create a shared future.

Respecting historical facts is the fundamental prerequisite for adhering to a correct historical outlook on World War II. Regarding the basic historical fact of the war's starting point, we must fully recognize the landmark significance of the September 18th Incident ^[2] in unveiling the prelude to the World Anti-Fascist War. On September 18, 1931, China fired the first shot in the resistance against Japanese aggressors, opening the world's first anti-fascist battlefield and becoming the theater that started earliest and lasted longest during World War II. In this regard, the British scholar Andrew Buchanan explicitly identifies the September 18th Incident as the starting point of World War II. Regarding the roles played by China and the Soviet Union, as the main battlefields in Asia and Europe respectively, they served as the mainstays ^[3] in the fight against Japanese militarism and German Nazism, making decisive contributions to the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War. With the 14-year War of Resistance ^[4], the Chinese theater pinned down nearly 70% of the Japanese Army's strength, becoming the main Eastern theater of World War II. Professor Rana Mitter of Oxford University noted that "weak China played an incomparable role in World War II." Research by the famous British military historian Liddell Hart confirmed that the Eastern Front in Europe, where the Soviet Union was located, was the main European theater that bore the heavy military pressure of Nazi Germany. Regarding the nature of the war, we must fully recognize that World War II was not only an anti-fascist war but also a war of revolution and independence. Professor Hans van de Ven of Cambridge University pointed out that "World War II was not just an anti-fascist war, but also a revolutionary war," and "looking at World War II from a global perspective must include the experiences of East Asian countries, as well as those of the Middle East, Africa, and South America." These historical facts cannot and shall not be erased; they are the fundamental prerequisite and core requirement for adhering to a correct historical outlook on World War II.

Opposing historical nihilism is the urgent task of adhering to a correct historical outlook on World War II. Current historical nihilism is no longer characterized by a simple denial of historical facts, but rather confuses public opinion through selective memory and the blurring of value judgments. Western historical nihilism regarding World War II mainly manifests in the following aspects: First is Western-centrism. "The narrative of Anglo-American countries is Eurocentric; it was U.S. President Roosevelt who proposed the term 'World War II,' linking this war to the outbreak of World War I in Europe and endowing it with a moral significance." Under this influence, erroneous Western-centric conclusions have emerged, such as "the 1939 German blitzkrieg against Poland as the starting point of World War II." These views ignore historical facts such as China's independent resistance against Japanese fascism since 1931 and the vital significance of the Soviet theater. Second is the "marginalization of the Eastern theater" in global historical narratives. A discourse has long existed in the West that underestimates the strategic value of China's War of Resistance. The American historian John Keegan considered the Chinese theater a "peripheral theater"; similar erroneous views, such as "the Chinese theater played a supporting role," are frequently encountered. Third is the ideological filter of the "liberator narrative." Ideological differences after World War II led the West to emphasize narratives such as "Britain and America liberating Europe," exaggerating the contributions of Western countries while barely mentioning the Soviet Union's contribution. Simultaneously, they ignore the autonomy of China's resistance and the strategic nature of its long-term warfare, disparaging China's combat capabilities and exaggerating the role of foreign aid, leading to the prevalence of erroneous perceptions like "the determinism of American aid." We must comprehensively examine and resolutely refute these erroneous views of historical nihilism.

Safeguarding the fruits of the World War II victory and the post-war international order is the practical requirement for adhering to a correct historical outlook on World War II. The victory of World War II not only declared the total military defeat of the Fascist bloc but also affirmed common human values such as peace, justice, and humanity. The post-war order established by a series of documents with international legal force, such as the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation, formed an international system with the United Nations at its core. This system emphasizes sovereign equality, territorial integrity, and opposition to aggression and interference, serving as the fundamental guarantee for the peaceful coexistence of all countries. Currently, some major Western powers, driven by the needs of strategic competition, are attempting to break this order and reshape a system of rules beneficial to their own hegemony. Historical conclusions originally established through the post-war Nuremberg and Tokyo trials have been diluted, ignored, or even tampered with. These practices of distorting the history of World War II, provoking conflicts, and creating divisions are intended to weaken the legitimate authority and historical justice of the victorious nations and challenge the international order determined after the war. In response, we must take a clear-cut stand ^[5] to resolutely safeguard contents such as the "Enemy State Clauses" in Article 107 of the Charter of the United Nations, prevent the comeback of remnant fascist forces, oppose any erroneous views that beautify colonial aggression, and resolutely defend the achievements of the World War II victory and the legal order it established.

Strengthening the shaping and international dissemination of a correct collective memory is the strategic path for adhering to a correct historical outlook on World War II. Over time, the memory of World War II has transcended individual or eyewitness memory to become a constructed collective and social memory. In the process of shaping this memory, China must proactively construct an autonomous memory system of World War II, enhance its discourse power regarding the war, and vigorously promote a correct historical outlook. The shaping of this outlook depends not only on professional research but also on a foundation of historical cognition among the entire population and strong international communication capabilities. To adhere to a correct historical outlook, we must strengthen historical education at its source—particularly the historical enlightenment of the youth—highlighting the anti-fascist spirit and the great historical facts of the Chinese people's War of Resistance. We must also strengthen international comparative perspectives and cross-cultural research capabilities in academic studies. Simultaneously, we should continue to promote the construction of an international communication discourse system, tell the story of China's War of Resistance well, and transmit the correct historical outlook to the world, so that the international community can more broadly understand, accept, and respect the great contributions made by China, alongside other nations, to the anti-fascist war.

Taking history as a mirror to create the future together is the goal and orientation of adhering to a correct historical outlook on World War II. The ultimate purpose of adhering to this outlook is not to remain fixed on a review of the past, but to draw lessons and better forge the future. As a victorious nation and a founding member of the United Nations, China has always advocated taking history as a mirror and looking toward the future, resolutely defending the authority and solemnity of the post-war international order. General Secretary Xi Jinping has emphasized many times the need to "jointly defend the fruits of the World War II victory and international fairness and justice." In today's world, upholding historical truth and promoting the anti-fascist spirit take on an even deeper practical significance. The lessons of World War II warn us: only through unity, cooperation, respect for sovereignty, and opposition to aggression can lasting peace be maintained. Only by adhering to a correct historical outlook, taking history as a mirror, and jointly defending the fruits of victory and international justice can the countries of the world join hands to build a beautiful future of lasting peace and common prosperity.

Online Editor: Tong Xin Source: Study Times (《学习时报》), May 23, 2025, Page 8