Liu Yue: Great Resistance Forges Spirit, Mainstay Casts Brilliance
Today marks the anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.
On September 2, 1945, aboard the battleship USS Missouri anchored in Tokyo Bay, Japan signed the instrument of surrender under the watchful eyes of representatives from the Victorious Nations. The Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War were officially declared victorious.
Eighty years later, we revisit this momentous historical occasion not only to remember history and pay tribute to the heroic martyrs, but more importantly, to draw spiritual strength from it. We seek to inherit the sense of responsibility demonstrated by the Communist Party of China (CPC) during the War of Resistance, along with the convictions crystalized in the Great War of Resistance Spirit. By integrating these into the values and spiritual bloodlines of contemporary Chinese people, we inspire ourselves to continue forging ahead in the New Era.
Accurately Grasping the Historical Significance of the "Pillar of Power"
The Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression was a pivotal battle for the survival of the Chinese nation. During this war of national liberation, the CPC played an irreplaceable role as the "mainstay" or "pillar of power" (中流砥柱, zhongliu dizhu [1]), through its outstanding political leadership, strategic foresight, and capacity for organizational mobilization. The September 18th Incident [2] in 1931 marked the beginning of the World Anti-Fascist War. The CPC immediately and resolutely advocated for resistance against Japan, issued manifestos, organized anti-Japanese guerrilla warfare in Northeast China, and launched national salvation movements, initiating the historical process of the Chinese people’s partial War of Resistance.
Li Donglang, a professor at the Department of CPC History of the Central Party School (National Academy of Governance), stated: "The series of anti-Japanese measures taken by the CPC not only dealt a heavy blow to Japanese colonial rule in Northeast China, but also strongly supported and encouraged the resistance and national salvation movements inside the Great Wall, injecting new hope into China's resistance at that time."
By 1938, the War of Resistance entered the stage of strategic stalemate. Facing erroneous views circulating in society such as the "Theory of National Subjugation" and the "Theory of Quick Victory," Comrade Mao Zedong explicitly proposed the three-stage theory of strategic defense, strategic stalemate, and strategic counter-offensive in his work On Protracted War. This pointed the way for mobilizing people of all ethnic groups across the country to persist in the resistance and greatly enhanced public confidence.
Li Donglang further analyzed that the disparity in strength between China and Japan was vast and the form of warfare was complex. Traditional combat methods were insufficient to handle a situation where the enemy was strong and we were weak; success required targeted strategies and tactics. Taking a global view of the overall situation, the CPC proposed a line of total resistance, the strategy of protracted war, and the concept of guerrilla warfare. By opening vast base areas behind enemy lines and forming strategic coordination with the frontal battlefield, the Party not only assumed the responsibilities of the main battlefield in military terms but also found a new path for the entire nation’s resistance. This fully demonstrated the mission and responsibility of the "pillar of power."
During the war, the CPC did not only fight heroically; it also played a vital role in providing direction, cohesive force, and organizational mobilization. In areas behind enemy lines, the Party led the military and civilians to establish 19 anti-Japanese democratic base areas, covering a total area of nearly 1 million square kilometers with a population of nearly 100 million. This demonstrated a powerful capacity for organizational mobilization and profoundly reflected the key role of a strong leadership core and scientific theory in national salvation.
"The CPC's status as the 'pillar of power' in the War of Resistance was formed gradually throughout the historical process," said Xiao Ruping, a professor at the School of History at Zhejiang University. He noted that the academic community has continuously expanded its research horizons around this theme, emphasizing that the CPC was the first to raise the anti-fascist banner, played a leading role in the national resistance, and established the vital importance of the rear-area battlefields and anti-Japanese democratic base areas. These studies provide solid academic support for empirically proving our Party's role as the mainstay.
Wang Meiping, a professor at the School of History at Nankai University, suggested that overseas documents, particularly Japanese archives, provide new perspectives for a comprehensive and objective understanding of the CPC’s historical role. Japanese archives from various periods record that the CPC demonstrated powerful political and social mobilization through the construction of base areas, mass mobilization, and the United Front [3]. For instance, official Japanese reports referred to the CPC as the "main body of the anti-Japanese movement." A 1937 report from the Japanese Ministry of Home Affairs explicitly stated that "the core of the Chinese anti-Japanese main body is centered on the Communist Party of China." These confirm the Party’s role as the pillar of power from the perspective of its opponent.
Hou Zhongjun, a researcher at the Institute of Modern History of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), summarized that throughout the War of Resistance, the CPC always stood at the forefront of the struggle with strategic vision and fearless spirit, adapting to the characteristics of different stages. Whether in establishing the Anti-Japanese National United Front, pointing out the direction of the war, or coalescing the people's will to persist, it played an irreplaceable and vital role.
Wang Meiping added that the connotation of "pillar of power" lies not only in political leadership and strategic guidance but also in using the Great War of Resistance Spirit to unite the people, mobilize national strength, and leverage the immense power of People’s War [4] to make a decisive contribution to victory.
The Connotation and Inheritance of the Great War of Resistance Spirit
The War of Resistance was not only a military confrontation but also a contest of spiritual will. Through their political programs, firm will, and exemplary actions, the Communists sustained the hope of national salvation and, through arduous struggle, forged the Great War of Resistance Spirit, profoundly shaping the spiritual foundations of the Chinese nation.
Wang Binglin, Dean of the Institute of CPC History and Party Building at Beijing Normal University, stated that the Great War of Resistance Spirit centrally embodies the spiritual core of the Chinese nation: an apical patriotism where "every man shares responsibility for the rise and fall of the nation" [5]; a national integrity of "preferring death to surrender"; a heroic spirit of "fearing no brute force and fighting to the bitter end"; and a perseverance guided by the "unyielding conviction in ultimate victory." These elements together constitute the powerful momentum for the Chinese people to defeat a powerful enemy.
Scholars believe that the Great War of Resistance Spirit and the Party's role as the "pillar of power" share a relationship of dialectical unity and mutual reinforcement. On one hand, the spirit provides the spiritual support for the Party's leadership, inspiring the masses to join the resistance. On the other hand, the Party’s role as the mainstay provides the practical foundation for the spirit; whether in the establishment of the United Front, the effective military response, or the economic livelihood and cultural awakening, all reflect the close integration of spirit and leadership.
In October 1938, in his report The Role of the Chinese Communist Party in the National War, Comrade Mao Zedong called on every Party member to "heroically and resolutely march to the battlefield of the national liberation war." This firm belief spread widely, taking root in the hearts of the people and coalescing into a majestic force for victory. Wang Meiping mentioned that Japanese archives repeatedly admitted the tenacity of the CPC was difficult to counter, reflecting the Party’s unwavering determination from a different angle.
It was by virtue of such spirit and action that the Chinese people ultimately won the war. To this day, the Great War of Resistance Spirit still holds profound significance for our times. By inheriting and promoting the patriotism, unity, and fortitude contained within it, we continue to inject spiritual impetus into the construction of a strong country and the rejuvenation of the nation.
Establishing a Correct View of History Through Solid Research
A rational understanding of the history of the War of Resistance must be built upon solid historical materials and objective research. In recent years, with the disclosure and digitalization of domestic and international archives, research into this history has entered a new phase of development. Scholars are using traditional historiographical methods combined with multidisciplinary tools from political science, sociology, big data, and artificial intelligence to drive deeper research.
Xiao Ruping stated that the discovery of new historical materials and cross-disciplinary cooperation have become important trends, helping to present history more comprehensively and multi-dimensionally—especially the CPC's role as the "pillar of power." Hou Zhongjun believes the academic community has moved from debates over "who led" to a rational analysis of "who played the decisive role," which represents a positive shift in the research paradigm. He suggested breaking down disciplinary boundaries and integrating perspectives from Marxist theory, history, and the study of Party history and Party building.
Historical research should be rooted in the present and oriented toward the future. Wang Binglin stated that promoting the Great War of Resistance Spirit has important practical significance. We must continuously excavate its connotations and carry out a modern transformation, integrating it into patriotic education and the cultivation of a "spirit of struggle" to provide value guidance and spiritual strength for responding to risks and challenges in the New Era.
Regarding future research directions, Xiao Ruping suggested that the academic community should focus more on the CPC's institutional innovations, governance practices, details of the resistance behind enemy lines, and its connections with the World Anti-Fascist War to fill gaps with more meticulous research. Wang Meiping argued that this history should be understood within the global context of the World Anti-Fascist War. In recent years, the international academic community has paid increasing attention to the CPC's organizational and mobilization capabilities, believing the Party played a major role in sustaining the national resistance under extremely difficult conditions. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen the sharing of international historical materials and cooperation, actively respond to the actions of Japanese right-wing forces that downplay the history of aggression, and encourage scholars to speak out on international platforms based on multi-country archives and third-party research results to clearly and effectively tell the historical truth of our Party as the "pillar of power."
History does not only concern the past; it illuminates the future. The Great War of Resistance Spirit and the CPC’s role as the "pillar of power" continue to inspire us to unswervingly advance on the new journey of building a strong country and achieving national rejuvenation.