Latest news with #WorldAnti-FascistWar
RTHK
a day ago
- Politics
- RTHK
Future of peace lies with youth: Xi
Future of peace lies with youth: Xi President Xi Jinping urges youngsters to champion the vision of peace. File photo: Xinhua President Xi Jinping sent a message to the World Youth Conference for Peace held in Beijing on Tuesday. Noting that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, Xi said in the message that the Chinese people, together with people around the world, completely defeated fascism and secured a hard-won peace through bloody battles 80 years ago. The president stressed that the future of peace lies with the youth, voicing the hope that young friends from all countries will take this event as an opportunity to exchange ideas, enhance mutual understanding and build friendships. Xi encouraged them to champion the vision of peace, and contribute to peaceful development and the building of a community with a shared future for humanity. With the theme of "Together for Peace," the conference was co-hosted by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the All-China Youth Federation. (Xinhua)
Borneo Post
4 days ago
- General
- Borneo Post
US veteran pilot keeps Flying Tigers' memory alive
Greene (right) watches file photos of the Flying Tigers at an airport in Huangping County, Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province on July 16, 2025. – Xinhua photo GUIYANG (July 27): For nearly 30 years, Jeffrey Greene, a veteran pilot and chairman of the Sino-American Aviation Heritage Foundation, has been dedicated to preserving the legacy of the Flying Tigers and promoting friendship between China and the United States. Greene's connection with China began when he was invited to produce a documentary on the Flying Tigers while serving as an aerospace warfare history advisor for the military channel of National Geographic in the United States. The Flying Tigers, officially known as the American Volunteer Group of the Chinese Air Force, was formed in 1941 by US General Claire Lee Chennault. They came to China to help the Chinese people fight the invading Japanese troops. With a 2,000-plus death toll, the Flying Tigers pilots shot down over 2,600 Japanese fighter planes, greatly assisting the fight against Japanese aggression. In 1995, Greene was invited by a group of Flying Tigers veterans to join their delegation to Beijing for the 50th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. That visit marked his first trip to China. After returning to the United States, Greene and the veterans, determined to keep the memory of the Flying Tigers alive, founded the Sino-American Aviation Heritage Foundation in 1998. The non-profit organisation has since worked to explore, promote and commemorate the shared history of US-China wartime cooperation. Over the years, the foundation has sponsored nearly 500 veterans and hundreds of their families and descendants to visit China. Many emotional and inspiring stories have emerged from these exchanges. 'Every time, I'd learn something that practically no one else knew. I was able to categorise it, building a sort of library of these thoughts,' Greene said. 'But there weren't too many opportunities for them to tell their stories. As a result, they just got lost.' In 2022, the foundation launched the Flying Tigers Friendship Schools and Youth Leadership Programme to encourage cross-cultural exchanges and pass on the Flying Tigers' spirit to younger generations. 'Youth is the key to cross-cultural exchanges between our two nations and the hope for the healthy development of Sino-American relations,' Greene said. To date, nearly 100 high schools and universities in China have applied to join the programme, signing memorandums of understanding to establish exchange partnerships. In a letter to Greene in January 2025, former US Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns praised the foundation's work, stating it 'helps to develop people-to-people ties, a cornerstone of the US-China bilateral relationship.' From Sunday to Thursday, Greene led a delegation to southwest China's Guizhou Province, where they planned to launch new Flying Tigers friendship schools and visited historic sites, including the 24-Zig Road, once a lifeline for over 2,000 military supply trucks per day during World War II, and Jiuzhou Airport in Huangping County, a former Flying Tigers base. He plans to bring American students to Guizhou next year to witness firsthand the living history and enduring memories of wartime cooperation between the two nations. Now 71, Greene has visited China around 200 times since the 1990s, bringing veterans, organising commemorative events, and building new bridges between the peoples of China and the United States. 'The Chinese have never forgotten what the Flying Tigers did for them. 'The Chinese and Americans together did something almost impossible 80 years ago, which shows that if we work together, we can win,' Greene said. – Xinhua China Flying Tigers Jeffrey Greene US veteran Xinhua
RTHK
5 days ago
- General
- RTHK
Wartime sites revived as China commemorates victory
Wartime sites revived as China commemorates victory Deep bullet holes still scar the walls of the historic buildings. Photo: RTHK Wartime sites in Shanxi province have been transformed into places of learning and remembrance, as China marks the 80th anniversary of victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and in the World Anti-Fascist War. One such site is in Yangquan City, where deep bullet holes still scar the walls of buildings. The Liu Family Mansion, once the scene of fierce combat between the Eighth Route Army and Japanese troops, has been restored and converted into an exhibition hall. The display tells the story of a battle where Chinese troops, though outnumbered, won a significant victory. These events were part of the Hundred-Regiment Campaign launched in August 1940, when the Eighth Route Army attacked Japanese-controlled railways and mines in northern China. One of the commanders, Fan Zixia, led sabotage missions along the Zheng-Tai Railway, destroying bridges and capturing train stations to cut off Japanese supply lines. Fan was later killed in 1942. His granddaughter, Fan Wei, has spent years retracing his footsteps – visiting old trenches, water towers, and rail stations where he once fought. 'I'm proud of my grandfather,' Fan Wei said. 'His bravery still inspires our family and younger generations.' China is organising a series of commemorative activities to mark the 80th war victory anniversary, including a major military parade on September 3.
RTHK
6 days ago
- RTHK
Tourism turn for key army HQ in anti-Japanese war
Tourism turn for key army HQ in anti-Japanese war Li Jinshui says Chinese with conscience had to step forward to save the country during the war. Photo: RTHK Shanxi province has established a 'red cultural ecosystem' and patriotic education base at the site of the former Eighth Route Army headquarters in the war of resistance against Japan. Educational tours have been hosted at the site in Wuxiang county in Shanxi, as this year marks the 80th anniversary of victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and World Anti-Fascist War. A former soldier from Wuxiang county who participated in the war of resistance, Li Jinshui, joined the Eighth Route Army at the age of 17 and participated in multiple battles. 'With my country being in trouble, I, as a person with conscience, had to step forward and save my country with guns,' he said. Li, 98, said he was seriously injured in a battle in 1944, with a bullet hitting him in the left leg, but that he continued to fight. 'I was discharged despite my wound not having fully recovered because we only had a small hospital and many injured soldiers,' he said. "The army needed people so I returned when my condition was stable." The former Eighth Route Army headquarters, from where oversight was cast over 135 battles during the war, has now been transformed into a memorial hall. The 'red tourism' site is expected to see more than 200,000 visitors per year. Researcher Guo Xiuxiang from a research institute of Communist Party history in Shanxi said the site is of high historical value. 'The site witnessed how Chinese soldiers and people fought against a siege and attack by the Japanese army,' she said. "It also witnessed how the Eighth Route Army engaged in guerrilla warfare against Japanese forces, and as such it has a very high historical value."
The Hill
18-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
4 reasons why Trump should reject China's invitation to its military parade
Beijing's Kyodo News reported June 29 that China is planning to invite President Trump to attend a military parade at Tiananmen Square on Sept. 3. The event marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II under the banner of the 'Commemoration of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.' However, behind this seemingly historical commemoration lies a calculated political agenda by Beijing: the distortion of history and an ambition to challenge the free world. Every international visit by a U.S. president carries deep symbolic meaning. This event touches on the core of U.S.-China relations, America's position on historical truth and the international order the U.S. upholds. I therefore earnestly urge President Trump to weigh the following four considerations before making any final decision should Beijing extend an official invitation. First, this parade is not a symbol of peace, but a strategic challenge to U.S.-Led Global Order. The Chinese Communist Party is not holding this parade merely to commemorate a historic victory. It is a deliberate display of military strength, aimed at projecting the narrative of Communist Party superiority and signaling strategic rivalry with the U.S. Since 2015, the party has increasingly normalized large-scale military parades. Domestically, they glorify one-party rule; internationally, they serve as a geopolitical tool to intimidate neighbors. By showcasing hypersonic missiles, fifth-generation fighter jets and long-range nuclear strike capabilities, these parades are clearly targeted at undermining the leadership of the U.S. and the free world. The Xi regime's invitation to Trump is a calculated effort to present China as America's equal on the global stage — conveying a vision of 'co-governance of the world.' Should Trump attend, his presence may be exploited as an implicit endorsement of China's military rise, thereby weakening America's global standing and eroding the confidence of regional allies. As President Ronald Reagan said in his 1981 inaugural address, 'Above all, we must realize that no arsenal, or no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women.' True strength lies not in weaponry, but in the spirit and conviction of free people. America's greatness stems from its values — not from military displays. Moreover, the essence of a military parade should be to honor those who gave their lives in service. Just last month, Trump presided over the 250th anniversary celebration of the U.S. Army in Washington, fulfilling that solemn duty with dignity and honor. This would not be like that. Second, the Chinese communists have falsified history and stolen the Nationalist government's wartime legacy. There is no historical ambiguity regarding who bore the brunt of Japan's invasion during World War II. Following the outbreak of the Pacific War in 1941, China became the principal theater of war in Asia. The Republic of China under Chiang Kai-shek's leadership conducted over 90 percent of the major battles and suffered the bulk of casualties. In contrast, the Communist Party operated largely in guerrilla warfare behind enemy lines, focused more on consolidating its own strength than on resisting Japan strategically. It was the Nationalist government's sacrifices that initially earned the Republic of China a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council. Even after its retreat to Taiwan in 1949 following the civil war, the U.N. continued to recognize the Republic of China for nearly two more decades — underscoring its historical legitimacy. After consolidating power, the Chinese Communist Party eliminated many of the generals and troops who had genuinely resisted Japan. Now, Beijing stages military parades as if it had been the actual victor, mocking the true heroes of World War II and engaging in historical theft of valor. If Trump were to attend, it would risk signaling U.S. endorsement of this manipulated narrative, creating the impression that America has accepted the Chinese Communist Party's version of history. Third, this parade dishonors fallen American soldiers from the Korean War. During World War II, the U.S. provided significant aid to China's anti-Japanese efforts. Yet less than five years later, the Chinese communists sent over 1 million troops across the Yalu River to directly engage U.S.-led United Nations forces in the Korean War. The Chinese Communist Party's support for the Kim regime in North Korea was part of its strategy to establish regional dominance in East Asia. More than 36,000 American soldiers died in the Korean War, and over 100,000 were wounded. Even today, many American families continue to grieve the loss of loved ones. The U.S. has always deeply honored its veterans and war dead — building monuments, museums and preserving their legacy in public memory. For a U.S. president to attend this parade would amount to public recognition of the very military that opened fire on American troops. Trump understands the profound sacrifice of military service. He must also be made to understand that attending this parade could deeply wound the families and descendants of the fallen. Finally, sharing a platform with Putin and Xi could send the wrong signal to the free world. Reports suggest that, because Xi attended Russia's 80th anniversary parade for the Great Patriotic War in Moscow this last May, Russian President Vladimir Putin will return the favor by attending China's parade in September. Both men are now seen across the free world as symbols of authoritarian expansionism. Putin has invaded Ukraine and constantly threatens Europe. Xi, meanwhile, has escalated provocations in the South China Sea and around Taiwan, suppressed freedoms in Hong Kong and continues the persecution of ethnic minorities in Xinjiang and Tibet. His regime that is both militaristic and repressive. Even if Trump does not share their goals, his standing alongside these two dictators at a military parade would be heavily exploited by Chinese and Russian media to depict an image of unity among the three powers. Such an image could damage global perceptions of the U.S. and undermine America's moral standing as the beacon of freedom. It risks shaking allies' trust in the values the U.S. represents. Trump is unquestionably one of the most influential American presidents and global leaders of our time. He has firmly defended American interests and values, taken strong action against the Iranian regime, and shown deep respect for America's military — earning widespread admiration at home and abroad. Yes, diplomacy involves difficult trade-offs. But China's invitation is not a normal diplomatic event. It is a stage crafted by an authoritarian regime to whitewash history and showcase military might — not in the pursuit of peace, but to control the global narrative. By declining to attend, President Trump would send a powerful signal: that America stands for historical truth, democratic values and the shared honor of defending freedom with its allies. Moreover, the Chinese Communist Party is currently under significant pressure from U.S. tariffs and technological sanctions. Its economy is more dependent on global markets than ever. This is not the time to offer Beijing symbolic concessions or legitimacy. A wiser, stronger strategy would be to reserve a presidential visit to China for when Beijing demonstrates genuine reform, keeps its promises, curbs its aggression and halts its theft of American technology and commerce. Only then should a U.S. president visit — with moral authority and strategic advantage. Trump, for the honor of the United States and in the name of historical responsibility, should firmly and respectfully decline this invitation. Vincent C. Chen is a senior executive in Taiwan's information and communications technology industry who serves as an advisory board member for Taiwan Thinktank and Foundation for Future Generations, Taiwan.
