Commemorating the great struggle
- By Sajjad Malik
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E-mail China.org.cn, August 29, 2015
Despite limited resources available at that time, the Chinese people fought relentlessly. They were able to engage a major chunk of imperial forces that weakened its push towards other areas in the Pacific region. Strategically, the vast Chinese territories had bogged down the Japanese army and its failure in China can be compared with that of Germany in Russia. It hastened the Japanese downfall and eventually brought the conflict to its end.
The military parade and other activities is a tribute by the government and the current generation of people to the struggle of those who were part of Chinese resistance against oppression and their contribution to the outcome of the war.
By organizing the parade and other events in the remembrance of its soldiers and common people who suffered due to a war, China is doing what every country does to pay respect to heroes. It does not mean maligning others but extolling freedom and celebrating a war which ended the occupation of a country by external forces.
The parade by the armed forces of a country once occupied is a symbol of its resilience and expression of a commitment to stand tall against the onslaught of an imperial power. It is also a lesson for powerful countries to respect the right of their weaker or vulnerable neighbors. History is never kind to those nations which usurp the rights of others and try to control their destinies.
While commemorating the end of World War II, let us also try to think about the future and try to work for a just global order where decisions are made on the basis of "right is right" and not by the virtue of "might is right."
China's foreign ministry spokesperson, Hua Chunying, rightly summed up the spirit of the parade: "We hope these commemorative activities will help remind all kind-hearted people of the aspiration and pursuit for peace, and make them work together to prevent a repetition of this historical tragedy and safeguard the outcomes of World War II in pursuit of a more beautiful future of all human beings."
The writer is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit: http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/SajjadMalik.htm
Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.
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