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Borneo Post
6 days ago
- General
- Borneo Post
The other side of Chongqing
A drone light show is staged in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality on June 17, 2025. – Xinhua photo CHONGQING (June 26): Of all the provincial-level jurisdictions in China, Chongqing Municipality in the southwest is the last one I have visited, and I didn't get the chance to explore it until I was in my 30s. But it was not totally unfamiliar: when I was a teenager, it appeared in my middle school history textbook as a tragic city, which, as China's provisional capital during the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression eight decades ago, has been repeatedly bombed by Japanese warplanes in more than five years, with widespread destruction and thousands of deaths. My visit allowed me to get to know another side of the city. Seeing a myriad of tall buildings on its wavy terrain, the world's longest horizontal building that stretches 300 meters atop four skyscrapers and the iconic light rail train sliding into an apartment building, it's no wonder that Chongqing has been referred to as an '8D magical city' on social media. Maybe this is the true picture of Chongqing: a city with both resilience and imagination, its people bold and unyielding. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. During our visit, we talked to Su Yuankui, 92, a survivor of the bombing on June 5, 1941. 'I will never forget that day,' he said. The old man, only eight then, was having supper with his family when the siren wailed. They rushed to an air-raid shelter, before an increasing number of residents flooded in, so many that Su got lost and struggled to breathe. He heard cries and screams, which turned dead silent in the end. Su passed out. When he woke up the second day, the boy found himself surrounded by dead bodies. He managed to make it back home, but his two sisters never did, like more than 1,000 others who suffocated to death in what was one of the deadliest air-raid tragedies in World War II. Some scholars estimate that the death toll was 2,500, or even more. File photo shows people trying to put out fire after air-strikes carried out by the Japanese army in southwest China's Chongqing on June 7, 1941. – Xinhua photo Today, the flames of war fire have long since extinguished, and many of the 1,600 plus well-preserved air raid shelters have been transformed into bookstores, pubs, petrol stations or hotpot restaurants. The one Su used to hide in has become the historical facts museum of June fifth tunnel tragedy during the bombing, which serves as a testament to the suffering and tenacity of the Chongqing people during that tumultuous era. At the entrance of the hall stands the replica of what looks like a remnant of a damaged wall, on which large characters read 'the more you bomb, the stronger we are'. Zeng Fanyi, a 29-year-old guide there, said that the slogan reflects the spirit of Chongqing. According to her, even in those dark days local residents maintained their hope and love for life, hosting various activities like children's sports gala to entertain themselves. 'A native of this city, I grew up singing this nursery rhyme: people from Chongqing, never giving up, undaunted by bombing…' she recalled. Traces of persistence of the Chongqing people could be found in history books: the Diaoyu City, an ancient fortress there during the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279), had withstood aggression of the Mongolian troops in the 13th Century for 36 years. It is a miraculous feat, considering the overwhelming victory of the Mongolians which swept across Central Asia and into Europe. Mongke, the Great Khan, died there, which eventually resulted in the overall military withdrawal that may have saved the European and Arab civilizations. The spirit has been inherited by people year after year. In the Xiazhuang Village of Wushan County, more than 100 villagers from some 300 households spent six years constructing a road in the mountains where they had lived for generations. Lacking modern machinery, they dangled from the cliff-face and used hammers, drills and other simple tools to cut through stone. The task was not only arduous but dangerous, resulting in the tragic loss of five villagers' lives during the process. 'They could have moved out of the mountain, but they chose not to,' my colleague Zhang Qin, who had interviewed the villagers, told me. 'Rather, they demonstrated unswerving determination, undeterred by any difficulty. This is the same spirit that kept them going during war time.' Meanwhile, the villagers also demonstrated courage in the way in which they made bold plans and followed through, showcasing another side of the Chongqing people. The 100,000th China-Europe freight train, coded X8083, waits for departure at the Tuanjiecun Station in Chongqing, southwest China on Nov 15, 2024. – Xinhua photo Such imagination impressed Zhang again when the Chongqing government proposed in 2010 to build a railway all the way to Europe. 'At that time many saw the plan as a fantasy,' she said. But today, the landlocked municipality has been seamlessly integrated into global commerce through the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor – a multimodal transportation network integrating rail, road and sea systems. As of May, more than 18,000 trains covering over 50 regular routes linking the city with European and Central Asian countries had been dispatched, reaching over 110 hub cities and regions across Asia and Europe. Now in the Chongqing World Financial Center one can find stores showcasing products from different countries – coffee from Columbia, clothes from Japan, amethyst from Uruguay, and mosquito repellent from Thailand – with affordable prices. For instance, a liter of milk from Uruguay is priced at 18 yuan (about US$2.5), about the same price as a domestic brand in China. 'We used to see imported goods as luxuries, but now they are commonly used in various aspects of our daily lives,' said 26-year-old Xu Yang who works in the store. Several hundred meters away from the mall is the city's landmark, the People's Liberation Monument, which was originally built in 1941 on one of the biggest bomb craters left by Japanese airstrikes as the 'Fortress of Spirit'. Such juxtaposition perfectly illustrates the dual souls of Chongqing, and maybe the rest of the country as well. Do you agree? – Xinhua China Chongqing Japanese invasion Xinhua
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Global Times: Upholding correct historical perspective on WWII a matter of national dignity, interests, says scholar on WWII history
Global Times launches WWII series; experts stress defending historical truth, UN order, and global peace. — Global Times Beijing, China, May 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. Eight decades have passed, yet the world once again finds itself at a crossroads. The rise of unilateralism, ongoing geopolitical turbulence and the distortion of historical truths remind us of the enduring relevance of remembering the past and safeguarding peace. Against this backdrop, the Global Times launches the column "Revisiting WWII, Defending Peace," inviting renowned scholars and peace advocates from around the world to revisit the history of WWII through contemporary lenses. Through diverse perspectives, the series seeks to uphold historical memory, promote shared development, and defend fairness and justice. In the first article of this series, Global Times (GT) reporter Cao Siqi interviewed Lin Limin (Lin), president of the Chinese Institute for History of the World War II, to share his views on why we must uphold a correct historical perspective on WWII. GT: In your opinion, what is the special significance of commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-1945) and the World Anti-Fascist War in today's world, where protectionism, unilateralism and bullying behaviors are on the rise, and humanity faces many common challenges? Lin: Compared to the 70th anniversary celebrations in 2015, the international situation and security environment have changed dramatically over the past decade. First, the world is still very unstable, and the "Sword of Damocles" of war still hangs over humanity. Second, the post-war international order centered around the UN faces severe challenges. The new US government has withdrawn from many international mechanisms, disrupted the international trade order and imposed reckless tariffs, leading to new dilemmas in global governance across various fields. In this context, commemorating the WWII victory carries special significance in demonstrating China's commitment to maintaining world peace and opposing war; upholding international cooperation, and opposing unilateralism; and defending the post-war international order centered around the UN while opposing bullying behaviors. It also highlights the courage, determination and capability of the Chinese people to stand at the forefront of international struggles. GT: What do you consider to be the correct historical perspective on WWII? Why do we need to conduct education on the correct historical perspective in today's world? Lin: First, the fascist attempts by Germany, Japan and Italy to conquer and enslave nations around the world are the root causes of WWII and the main culprits that instigated the war, leading to unprecedented calamities for humanity. Second, the large-scale and brutal invasions by German, Japanese and Italian fascists forced countries, including China and the Soviet Union, to rise up in resistance and unite with the US, UK and France to form an international united front against fascist aggression. It was precisely because of this justice, popular support and progressiveness that the international united front against fascist aggression was formed, ensuring the ultimate comprehensive victory of the World Anti-Fascist War. Third, the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression constituted the main theater in the East during WWII, shouldering the responsibility for defeating Japanese fascism and making significant contributions to the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War, while also bearing immense sacrifices. Starting from the "September 18 Incident" in 1931, the Chinese people were the first to raise the banner of justice against fascist aggression, setting an example for armed resistance against fascist invasion for countries around the world. The Chinese people's persistence in the war lasted 14 years, during which they not only defeated the main forces of the Japanese army but also supported the Allied forces, effectively thwarting Japan's "northward" ambitions and restraining its "southward" advances. The defeat of Japanese fascism marked the first comprehensive victory for the Chinese people in their modern struggle against imperialist aggression, paving the way for China to develop into a world power. Fourth, the Communist Party of China (CPC) is the mainstay in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, and the World Anti-Fascist War, making immense sacrifices and contributions to the victory. To begin with, the CPC actively promoted the establishment of the united front against Japanese aggression and the international united front against fascism, raising the banner of international justice against fascist aggression, providing a spiritual pillar for the Chinese military and civilians to persist in the war and set an example for the anti-fascist struggles of countries worldwide. Additionally, the Eighth Route Army, New Fourth Army, and the Northeast China Counter-Japanese United Forces, led by the CPC, fought bravely against Japan, making outstanding contributions and playing a crucial role in leading and inspiring the entire nation to persevere in the war, while also setting an example for the anti-fascist struggles of colonized and semi-colonized peoples. Moreover, the CPC systematically proposed the idea of people's war, guiding the Chinese military and civilians in the long-term struggle against Japan, profoundly influencing the war against Japanese aggression and the overall situation of WWII, and highlighting the justice and popular support of the war. Fifth, the Eastern Front was decisive in the European Theater of Operation in WWII. In the Great Patriotic War, the Soviet people united as one, sacrificing greatly to defeat the main forces of fascist Germany, making a decisive contribution to the victory of the European front of the World Anti-Fascist War, while also bearing immense sacrifices. In August 1945, the Soviet Union sent troops to the Far East, defeating the main forces of the Japanese Kwantung Army, which also made an important contribution to the final victory over Japanese fascism. However, some right-wing politicians, internet influencers and scholars in Europe and some Western countries, including the US and Japan, continue to attempt to overturn historical truths, deny the immense sacrifices and contributions made by the CPC and the Chinese people as well as the Soviet people. Under the US influence, the Japanese government's stance on WWII has also regressed. In this regard, the international struggle over the historical perspective on WWII is not merely an academic or historical dispute; it involves national dignity, prestige and is a fight about national interest. We need to repeatedly promote a correct perspective on WWII that aligns with historical truths, countering the various lies and falsehoods propagated by those who seek to overturn the truth of China's resistance efforts and WWII history. GT: In your view, why must we firmly defend the international system centered around the UN, the victorious outcome of WWII, and the post-war international order, never allowing a regression in history? Lin: At the end of WWII, Western powers such as the US and the UK, driven by their imperialist nature and relying on their comprehensive strength, indeed intended to replicate the model of the Paris Peace Conference. They sought to influence the post-war international political and economic arrangements to maintain and expand their global hegemony. This intention is a major source of the shortcomings in the design, framework and content of the post-war international order. Shortly after the war, the victory of the Chinese revolution and the establishment of the People's Republic of China, along with the emergence of new countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America that broke free from imperialist colonial rule and achieved national independence, further strengthened the forces of justice, peace and progress in the world, promoting continuous progressive adjustments to the post-war international order. Therefore, China advocates for cooperation with Global South countries to defend the victorious outcome of WWII, maintain the post-war international order, and combat the hegemonic and bullying tendencies, in order to promote world peace, development and global governance. GT: Currently, the world once again stands at a historical crossroads. How can we defend the victorious outcome of WWII? Lin: First, we must believe that history is on the side of justice and the people. Second, we should focus on our own affairs, especially by strengthening our comprehensive strength; being robust makes us immune to harm. Third, we should cultivate more friendships and create fewer enemies. With more friends, we are less afraid of obstacles along the way. Fourth, we must be willing to fight and strive for cooperation, ensuring that both approaches are strong. The article first appeared in the Global Times: Company: Global Times Contact Person: Anna Li Email: editor@ Website: City: Beijing Disclaimer:This press release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies (including product offerings, regulatory plans and business plans) and may change without notice. You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Global Times: Retracing northeast anti-Japanese path in WWII reveals hero-named streets preserving 14-year battles' legacy
Global Times honors Zhao Yiman, NAJUA heroes, and their legacy of sacrifice, courage, and patriotism. Beijing, China, May 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In 1936, in the dimly lit underground cell of Harbin Municipal Hospital, Zhao Yiman, a legendary heroine who fought against Japan's invasion of China, lay on a frigid wooden plank, leaving her leg wound festering, with over 40 bones broken. Each breath brought searing pain. As a Japanese interrogator sneered and lashed her exposed wound with a whip, she stared defiantly, repeating only "I can tell nothing." This is a scene recreated for the Global Times reporter by the docent of a memorial hall on Yiman as the Global Times reporter stands before the former site of this hospital ward, gazing at Zhao's photographs from different periods lining both walls of the ward, it is hard to imagine that Zhao, who held her head high and refused to yield under torture, was once a young woman born into an affluent family, who should have lived a life rowing a boat on the Songhua River and walking the streets of Harbin in high heels with red lipstick. When her country fractured, she resolutely chose the hardest decades ago, a steel-willed force led by figures like Zhao Yiman wrote one of the most tragic chapters in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. They were China's Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army (NAJUA), who fought for 14 years in extreme September 18, 1931, Japanese troops blew up a section of railway under their control near Shenyang and accused Chinese troops of sabotage as a pretext for the attack. Later that night, they bombarded barracks near Shenyang. Triggered by the September 18, 1931 Incident, Japan's invasion of Northeast China ignited the mid-1930s, the Communist Party of China (CPC)-led Northeast anti-Japanese guerrilla units were joined by volunteer armies and mountain guerrillas to form the United Army, dealing heavy blows to Japanese the 14-year period, the NAJUA engaged 760,000 Japanese troops, and killed or incapacitated 180,000 of them, in a display of the valor and unyielding spirit of the Chinese nation. Its campaigns lent strong support to the anti-Japanese struggle nationwide and to the World Anti-Fascist War. A street witnessing victory, resilience and defianceHarbin, in May, hums with the damp breeze off the Songhua River. Its streets and parks were steeped in the NAJUA legacy. Last winter, as Harbin's ice-snow tourism surged, visitors braved the chill to snap photos by Yiman Street's signpost, a tribute to Zhao Yiman. In 1932, she organized revolutionary works against Japanese aggression on this street. On Yiman Street stands a striking three-story building - the Northeast China Martyrs Memorial Hall at No. 241 Yiman Street, established in 1948 to honor heroes of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the Liberation the memorial courtyard, a vintage tram measures over 9 meters long and 3 meters high, with its white upper body contrasting with red lower panels and black headlamp."This is the very tram Zhao Yiman led striking workers in," Liu Qiangmin, director of the memorial, told the Global Times. Preserved intact, it stands as physical evidence of her revolutionary work in Harbin, he early 20th-century Harbin - then an international metropolis - Japanese occupiers after the 1931 invasion routinely abused tram national crisis, the Communist Party of China sent members like Zhao to organize resistance. By September 1932, she mobilized workers to plaster anti-Japanese posters across the city. Facing overwhelming pressure, occupiers capitulated - punishing abusive officers and meeting worker demands."Yiman Street" - this particular street sign seems to gleam a little more lustrously than its neighbors. A nearby shopkeeper told the Global Times that people often bring flowers to pay tribute under the street sign. "This is a heroine's street because of her courage." It was here, too, where she was captured and held at the Police Station of "Manchukuo," a puppet state established by Japanese invaders. Stepping into the historical site of police station, the basement houses the grim remnants of the so-called "Manchukuo" Harbin police station. Black-and-white photos document the invaders' atrocities. A cramped cell, with a hard bed and a rusted lock on its iron door, held Zhao after her capture in 1935. Nearby, a torture chamber displays rows of implements - whips, needles, irons - casting long shadows. Here, Zhao endured unimaginable shocks ravaged her nerves, salt was rubbed into her wounds, steel needles pierced her fingers, and chili water was forced into her nose. Yet in lucid moments, she roared: "You bandits can reduce villages to rubble, hack people to pieces, but you cannot extinguish my faith or defeat China's resolve." Her tormentors, enraged, left empty-handed, according to a report by the Xinhua News nine months, from November 1935 to July 1936, the enemy alternated between healing and beating her, deploying every method available. Zhao never betrayed her comrades or the Party. Today, the very instruments of torture used against this heroine remain preserved at several memorial halls across China. Every visitor paying tribute stands in solemn silence before this cell, their faces etched with footage at the hall captures her final moments on August 2, 1936. Standing tall, head high, Zhao faced the morning breeze and sang defiantly. Nine years later, China, alongside global allies, crushed fascism. Four years later, the People's Republic of China, for which Zhao and countless martyrs shed their blood and made the ultimate sacrifice, came into years after her death, Zhao's name and story endure. Generations seek her, learn from her, and aspire to her. At Harbin's Zhao Yiman Red Army Primary School, just 300 meters from Yiman Street, children's "letters" to Zhao adorn the walls, sharing their struggles like unfinished math homework or mastering the drums. These letters conveyed the "Yiman spirit" - unyielding courage, never bowing to adversity, never surrendering to the enemy. The school's docent team narrates her deeds, while plays, drawings, and speeches keep her legacy alive. For these students, "heroine" isn't just a word in textbooks - Zhao Yiman is a vivid, inspiring presence.A street where shadows and valor intertwinedAbout 5 kilometers from Yiman Street lies Jingyu Street, bearing witness to another hero - General Yang Jingyu (born Ma Shangde), a NAJUA November 1931, Yang arrived in Japanese aggression-stricken Harbin to lead underground resistance. The city teemed with spies; one misstep possibly meant carrying vital documents near Zhengyang Street (now Jingyu Street), Yang encountered Japanese soldiers conducting body searches behind barbed wire. With agents watching his back, he calmly destroyed papers, unbuttoned his robe, and strode forward. His impeccable attire and composure disarmed suspicion - the soldiers waved him through. Buttoning up, he vanished into the alleyways, documents confirm. On February 23, 1940, the NAJUA commander sacrificed his life for fighting in Bao'an village, Mengjiang county (now Jingyu county) in Northeast China's Jilin Province. When enemies dissected his body, they found only undigested bark, grass, and cotton in his stomach - no food, according to the Xinhua report. In 1948, Zhengyang Street was renamed Jingyu Street in Qiangmin told the Global Times that Heilongjiang, the epicenter of Northeast resistance, bore witness to the NAJUA's grueling struggle in 14 years. Of the NAJUA's all 11 armies, 9.5 operated in Heilongjiang, especially after 1937, along the China-Soviet border. The toll was staggering: From 30,000 fighters initially, fewer than 1,000 survived by 1945. The hardships faced by the NAJUA stemmed, on the one hand, from the brutal aggression and economic blockade by Japanese puppet troops, and on the other, from the long-term forced severance of contact with the Central Committee of the CPC. Despite this, the forces held fast to their beliefs, drawing strength from various sources and demonstrating unwavering loyalty to the Party. "Fundamentally, this reflects the unswerving support of NAJUA soldiers for the Party," said a veteran researcher of WWII resistance history, Liu recalls discovering Japanese military archives documenting severe frostbite casualties at -40C. "It's unimaginable how our ill-equipped Chinese soldiers endured this," he reflects. Today's youth, he believes, need such crucibles of willpower - that is precisely why they need to learn NAJUA's story."Their 14-year resolve offers timeless lessons. Their courage in shouldering national duty inspires today's youth to reject complacency, embrace their responsibility, and contribute to China's rejuvenation in the new era, even without facing bullets or bayonets," Liu stressed.A legacy in bloodlineEighty years ago, Ma Shangde, known as Yang Jingyu, fought to his last breath for China's independence. Today, his great-grandson, Ma Chengming, forgoes city comforts to serve in Jingyu county in Central China's Henan Province, a former national-level impoverished county and the land of Yang Jingyu's martyrdom, aiding rural revitalization."I had job offers in the mega cities," Ma Chengming told Global Times, "but a deep bond drew me here."As a child, Yang Jingyu was a hero in textbooks and films. In middle school, Ma visited Yang's martyrdom site in Jingyu county and the Jingyu Street in Harbin. In swirling snow, he heard how Yang, out of ammunition and food, fought alone until his final moment. "I pictured him and his comrades, in thin clothes, starving and freezing, battling to their last breath," Ma recalled, eyes reddening. "That was when being 'Yang Jingyu's heir' hit me.""This land needs youth," Ma said, explaining his return to the homeland. From his role as a young official in Bao'an village, Jingyu county, Ma rooted himself in the countryside, helping 11 impoverished households secure medical reimbursements and housing upgrades until the village escaped poverty over the years. Retracing the path of the NAJUA is not merely a journey through history, but a quest for a spiritual compass for the future. Forged in the crucible of ice and fire, this spirit holds the enduring strength of the Chinese nation. At its core lies the Communist Party of China's unwavering faith, steadfast responsibility, and defiance of hardship. As Ma, Yang Jingyu's great-grandson, put it: "My great-grandfather is a beacon, forever guiding my way." That light will continue to illuminate the paths of countless others. The article first appeared in the Global Times: Company: Global Times Contact Person: Anna Li Email: editor@ Website: City: Beijing Disclaimer:This press release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies (including product offerings, regulatory plans and business plans) and may change without notice. You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
