Military leader calls for remembrance, stronger army

Central Military Commission (CMC) Vice-Chairman Fan Changlong called for remembering wartime history and maintaining a stronger army to safeguard state sovereignty, security and development interests in Monday's People's Liberation Army (PLA) Daily.

With Victory Day to celebrate the 70th anniversary of victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the end of WWII one month away, Fan called on all peace lovers to "remain highly vigilant to efforts to glorify invasions and colonialism."

In a PLA Daily article, Fan, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said, "There are always some forces on the international stage and in Japan that try to deny the brutal Japanese militarism invasion and barbaric crimes, and pay respect to the shrine honoring the war criminals."

Fan said the victory in the anti-Japanese war and World Anti-Fascist War, as well as the post-WWII order based on the UN charter, should be "firmly guarded," and any distortions of history should be absolutely forbidden.

Commemorating wartime history is not intended to "continue the hatred," but to "draw lessons from history in order to face the future," Fan wrote.

He noted that national defense and the military are a "strong backing" for state security and development.

"Roads ahead are not easy, as China strives to realize the dream of national revival," Fan said, adding challenges and pressures are bigger as China grows stronger.

Complete National unification has not been achieved, with continued territorial and maritime disputes with relevant countries and a rise in factors affecting state security, he said.

Fan reiterated China's adherence to the peaceful development path, without intention for hegemony and expansionism.

However, Fan said China will certainly not submit to humiliation, adding, "At the word of command of the CPC Central Committee, CMC and Chairman Xi, the military must fight and win," in case the state sovereignty and territorial integrity are under major threat.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the end of WWII. Japan signed its formal surrender on Sept. 2, 1945, and China celebrated its victory the following day. China will hold a military parade on Sept. 3 at Beijing's Tian'anmen Square to commemorate the great victory.

More than 35 million Chinese were killed or injured in the anti-Japanese war, one-third of all who fell or were injured during WWII, according to incomplete official statistics. In the Nanjing Massacre of December 1937 alone, Japanese troops slaughtered at least 300,000 Chinese civilians and unarmed soldiers.

However, no sincere repentance over wartime history has been made by Japan's Abe cabinet. Endit