The Beijing military parade is of practical significance

The Beijing military parade is of practical significance


EVENTS celebrating the 70th anniversary of the victory over Japanese aggression take place today (September 3) in Beijing. Of all the events, the military parade is likely to capture the most attention. The Beijing authorities state that they are not holding the military parade because of Japan or the Japanese people. However, the term "victory over Japanese aggression" in fact refers to the Chinese people's gallant resistance against the invasion triggered by a militarist Japan, as well as a victory that came with a lot of loss and sacrifices. Seventy years after its defeat in the Second World War, Japan is being led by its right-wing politicians to whitewash the invasion, shift responsibility for the war and push through new security bills. As a result, Japan is no longer a pacifist country, and could go down the road of military aggression again. What the Japanese people intend to do has put China, which has experienced the pain and suffering caused by Japan's invasion, on high alert. This is why the military parade is of great historical and practical significance.

A total of fourteen military parades have previously been staged since the Communist Party of China established the People's Republic. They were all conducted on the National Day, and as such were all national celebrations. This parade, however, is the first in Chinese history to mark the victory over Japanese aggression. It features a call to "bear history in mind, honour all those who laid down their lives, cherish peace and open up the future". Its theme shows that the Beijing authorities are trying to send a few messages to the world: Not only did China win the war against Fascism, it is also determined to go down a road of peaceful development. Furthermore, the Beijing authorities are calling on every country in the world to go down the same road and work hard for the creation of a harmonious world of long-lasting peace and shared prosperity. This is indeed what Xi Jinping declared during the forum on the 69th anniversary of Chinese people's victory in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. What he said was described by the Xinhua News Agency as a "national pledge" made by Xi.

China is determined to pursue economic development as its main policy. Its aim is the creation of a society that is affluent overall, and, ultimately, a prosperous and powerful country. Peace is the prerequisite of economic development. What Xi has declared is a reflection of the Chinese authorities' genuine beliefs: China might have made considerable progress in upgrading its military equipment, but everything is aimed at preserving peace. The Beijing authorities know very well that, if war breaks out, China's economic development will be disrupted, causing uncertainty over its national rejuvenation. There is no doubt that the Beijing authorities are eager for peace and are doing everything they can to avoid war.

Japan was China's enemy in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War seventy years ago. It was defeated in the war, which lasted for eight years. The Nuremberg Trial and the Tokyo War Crimes Trials delivered a verdict on the war crimes committed by Japan. The United Nations was established, and China is one of the five permanent members of its Security Council. All this has not only provided a framework for today's world order, but also confirmed that Japan committed war crimes during its invasion of China and recognised China as a victor of the Second World War. However, over the years, Japan has never stopped trying to distort history, whitewash the invasion and shift its responsibility for the war crimes. Not only are these actions an affront to China, the Chinese people and the international community, they also show that the spirit of militarism has lived on in Japan. By commemorating the victory over Japanese aggression with a military parade, the Beijing government is showing its tough stance towards what is prevailing in Japan, which is very undesirable. It also serves as a reminder to the world: A nation unwilling to learn from history could go down the road of military aggression again.



抗戰勝利大閱兵 具歷史現實意義


抗戰勝利70周年紀念活動，今日（3日）在北京舉行，其中以大閱兵最受矚目。北京官方就今次閱兵，表明並非針對日本和日本人民；不過，抗戰勝利的提法，實際上宣示着中國人民奮勇抗擊日本軍國主義侵略者，付出重大犧牲和損失而取得的勝利。日本於戰敗70年之後，在右翼政客催動下美化侵略罪行，推卸戰爭責任，強行推動新安保法案，使日本告別和平國家屬性，重新走上可涉及戰爭的道路；日本的意圖，引起曾受侵略之苦的中國高度警惕。所以，從歷史與現實角度檢視今次大閱兵，都有重大意義。

中共建政以來舉行過14次閱兵，都是國慶閱兵，屬於國家慶典。今次閱兵，是中國歷史上首次以紀念抗戰勝利為主題，提出「銘記歷史、緬懷先烈；珍愛和平、開創未來」的呼籲。從主題看來，北京藉着這次閱兵傳遞的信息，不僅向世界展示反法西斯戰爭中戰勝國的姿態，還向世界發出信號：中國堅持走和平發展道路，同時呼籲各國共同走和平發展道路，為建設持久和平、共同繁榮的和諧世界而不懈努力。這是習近平在中國人民抗日戰爭暨世界反法西斯戰爭69周年座談會上的宣示，新華社的表述形容此為習近平發出的「國家誓言」。

中國仍然堅持以經濟建設為核心，要把國家建造成為全面小康以至富強的國度，而經濟建設的前提和基礎，需要一個和平環境。習近平的宣示反映了中國的真實想法，即使軍事建設突飛猛進發展，也是為了維護和平環境服務。北京知道只要發生戰爭，中國的發展步伐就會被打亂，民族復興之路就會出現不明朗變數。因此，北京渴求和平，盡力避免戰爭，是毋須質疑的國家目標。

中國在70年前的抗戰和反法西斯戰爭中，敵人是日本；日本侵略中國，歷經8年戰敗，當年紐倫堡審判、東京審判就戰爭罪行早有定案，聯合國因而成立，中國是5個常任理事國之一，塑造了現行國際秩序的框架。可以說，日本侵略中國的罪行按此確定，中國戰勝國的地位按此奠定。可是，這些年日本扭曲歷史，美化侵略，推卸侵略戰爭罪行的舉措持續不斷，對中國和中國人民、對國際社會都是褻瀆，反映軍國主義者的陰魂，在日本盤纏不去。中國今年以大閱兵方式紀念抗戰勝利，是以強烈姿態回應在日本瀰漫的歪風，並且提醒世人：不肯以史為鑑的民族，有可能重蹈覆轍走上侵略戰爭之路。