July 7 is the day when Chinese people look back the scars of war, and cherish the hard-won peace and stability in Asia. The day marks the 86th anniversary of the Lugou Bridge Incident, also known as the July 7th Incident of 1937, a key event that marks the start of Japan's full-scale invasion of China during World War II.

Chinese people's war of resistance against Japanese invaders lasted from 1931 to 1945. Official data shows that more than 35 million Chinese soldiers and civilians died during the war, accounting for nearly 8 percent of China's total population in 1928.

On July 7, 1937, Japanese soldiers attacked Chinese forces at the Lugou Bridge, also known as Marco Polo Bridge, southwest of Peiping (today's Beijing). It was a crucial access point to the strategic city. The incident also marks the start of China's whole-nation resistance against the Japanese invaders.

Peiping was captured by the Japanese army on July 29, 1937. Data shows that more than 10,000 civilians were killed or disappeared during the fall of the city.

China was the main battlefield against Japanese imperialism and fascism, and the war changed China and China-Japan relations forever. This year marks the 45th anniversary of the signing of the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship. Amid various risks and challenges, China-Japan relations are at a new crucial juncture.

New proof

Although historical facts of Japan's war crimes are intentionally wiped out in the country's history textbooks, more proof has surfaced recently.

In March, a piece of 25-minute-long historical footage was given to China Media Group by the All-Russian State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company.

The footage records Japanese aggression in China and the heinous war crimes committed by Japanese troops. It was captured by the Soviet Red Army from the Japanese Kwantung Army in northeast China. Much of the footage has never been disclosed before.

It includes images of Japanese soldiers in Wanping County after the July 7 Incident. Li Qinghui, deputy director of the historical research department of the Museum of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, said the crumbling walls in the footage were damaged by Japanese shells.

"After the occupation of Wanping, the Japanese quickly deployed a large number of weapons and personnel. This proves that their aggression against China is not accidental, but premeditated for a long time," said Li.

The footage also shows Japanese aggressors being transported to Qinghe Station, a transportation hub outside Beijing, and the Japanese bombing of Tianjin, where many places were destroyed, including the city's government building.

It was filmed by the Manchukuo Film Association, one of the main propaganda vehicles for the Kwantung Army. Established in August 1937, it produced films to fabricate history and boost public support for the war effort against China.

Letting more people know

In June, a Chinese museum and a Japanese historian jointly released archives showing the components and staff list of Unit 731, a Japanese biological and chemical warfare unit during World War II, to the public in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province.

The archives were found by Japanese historian Seiya Matsuno in the National Archives of Japan recently. Matsuno, who is also a distinguished professor of Heilongjiang International University, took the photocopy of the staff list to China.

This is the first time that the information about the staff list and all the departments of Unit 731 has been confirmed from Japanese official archives, said Matsuno.

Matsuno said it's very important to release the staff list in Harbin, a city where Unit 731 was based, adding that he hopes to cooperate with Chinese experts to research the archives and let more people know Unit 731's crimes.

At least 3,000 people were used for human experiments by Unit 731, and more than 300,000 people in China were killed by Japan's biological weapons.

(With input from Xinhua, CMG)