Editor's note: Xu Haiyun, a special commentator on current affairs for CGTN, is a professor of history at Renmin University of China. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

This year, 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. It is the shared responsibility of all nations to honor the monumental achievements of the fallen heroes in the War of Resistance, commemorate the victims of the war against fascism, remember history and build on past successes to further advance our collective cause.

Safeguarding international justice and equity

The September 18 Incident occurred in 1931. Within just three months, Japan occupied three of China's northeastern provinces, sparking war in Asia. In 1936, Germany and Italy formed the Berlin-Rome Axis. By 1939, they had fully established a military alliance, becoming the instigators of war in Europe. With the continued expansion of Japanese, German and Italian fascism, the two fronts ran in parallel across Eastern and Western Battlefields, together igniting the global war against fascism.

In the face of aggression by German, Italian, and Japanese fascists, China, the Soviet Union, and other nations – though collectively weaker – steadfastly resisted. Although China lacked weapons, equipment, financial stability and modern industrial systems, it never lacked courage in the face of formidable enemies or immense loss.

Despite the 35 million Chinese military and civilian casualties, the fall of half the nation's cities, and the Japanese Army's occupation of six million square kilometers of territory, the Chinese people neither feared brutality nor yielded. Throughout the war, they forged a national spirit rooted in patriotism, formed a national united front against Japanese aggression that included all ethnic groups and social classes and ultimately defeated Japanese fascism.

Similarly, during the Great Patriotic War, the Soviet Union withstood the German Army's blitzkrieg, achieving successive victories in the Battles of Moscow, Stalingrad and Kursk, until German forces were completely defeated.

In contrast, during the early stages of fascist expansion, Britain, France and other countries adhered to appeasement policies. To safeguard their own interests, they turned a blind eye to fascist atrocities – including the seizure of cities and territories, the massacre of civilians, and the use of germ warfare – maintaining the international order at the expense of smaller and weaker nations.

Prior to the Japanese Army's occupation of northern Indochina in September 1940, the U.S. had continuously exported goods, including aviation gasoline, to Japan. It was not until the invasion of Poland and the outbreak of the Pacific War that Britain, France and the U.S. fully engaged in the fight against fascism, joining the ranks of the international anti-fascist united front.

The history of World War II (WWII) demonstrates that upholding international equity and justice is not determined by a country's strength, size or political system; safeguarding peace is a shared responsibility of all nations. International equity and justice represent the common interests of humanity, and any ideas or actions contrary to them will inevitably be cast aside by history.

Combating and weakening fascists

During the World Anti-Fascist War, people from countries and regions around the world supported one another, forming the international anti-fascist united front. The U.S., the UK, the Soviet Union and China, along with other nations, coordinated their political strategies and military operations, jointly undertaking the historic mission of defeating the fascist powers of Germany, Italy and Japan.

During the 14-year War of Resistance, the Chinese people adhered to the principles of independence and self-reliance, continuously containing and wearing down the Japanese Army on both center stage and backstage battlefields, persistently combining mobile, positional and guerrilla warfare.

Ultimately, more than 1.5 million Japanese troops became casualties in battles with the Chinese resistance, and over 1.28 million also surrendered, establishing China as the principal force on the Eastern battlefield.

In addition, China twice organized expeditionary forces to northern Myanmar, providing strong support to the Allies. Through the valor of its military and civilians, China fully contained the Japanese Army – preventing northward advances, delaying their push southward and even postponing the outbreak of the Pacific War.

Mirroring Chinese efforts, the Soviet Union – the primary force on the European front – lost around 27 million lives in the Great Patriotic War and eliminated more than 3.8 million German troops. It comprehensively weakened the war machine of Germany and its allies, making a significant contribution to the eventual defeat of the German Army and to victory on the European front.

Meanwhile, through the Lend-Lease Act, the U.S. provided material assistance to anti-fascist nations such as Britain, the Soviet Union, France and China, supporting their protracted resistance. At the same time, it launched naval and air operations against Japan in the Pacific, resulting in the deaths of nearly one million Japanese troops.

In Europe, the U.S.-British allied forces eliminated more than 700,000 German troops. Britain, through sustained operations in Southeast Asia, North Africa and the Battle of the Atlantic, steadily weakened the German Army. In 1944, together with U.S. forces and others, they jointly opened a second front in Europe, forming a two-front offensive alongside the Soviet Army on the distant Eastern Front, thereby accelerating Germany's defeat.

It is evident that the U.S., the UK, the Soviet Union and China were among nations actively cooperating in the World Anti-Fascist War, uniting across multiple battlefields in mutual support. They joined forces to fight against fascist powers, securing victory through unity and shared sacrifice.

Establishing and safeguarding the international order and rules

While striving to defeat fascist forces, nations including the U.S., the UK, the Soviet Union and China also worked to establish a new international order and framework of rules. During WWII, these anti-fascist allies held a series of conferences, concluded multiple treaties, and actively promoted the development of this emerging legal framework.

These nations declared the annulment of territories illegally seized by Germany, Italy, or Japan through military force and aggression; the restoration of territories and administrative sovereignty taken from invaded countries; and the safeguarding of the international order and the principle of national sovereignty from violation.

An international political and security mechanism was established with the United Nations (UN) at its core. This included the UN Security Council, founded on the principle of unanimity among major powers, and the UN General Assembly, which upholds the equality of rights among member states. There is no doubt that the UN, the world's most representative international organization, has played a vital role in maintaining international peace and promoting global development in the post-war era.

The Bretton Woods system was established, directly linking the U.S. dollar to gold and affirming its status as the world's reserve currency. The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development was also founded, and the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade formulated, together laying the foundation for a new international economic and financial order. Although the system had many shortcomings, it played a significant role in the recovery and development of the global economy after the war.

The principle of unconditional surrender for fascist states was established; guidelines for the occupation and administration of fascist Germany and Japan were formulated; all militarist and fascist institutions were dismantled; the Nazi Party and the SS (abbreviation of Schutzstaffel [German: 'Protection Squad']) were abolished; fascist armies were disbanded; and political, social and military democratization reforms were implemented.

The World Anti-Fascist War is a chapter of history with rich lessons for the world. History often guides the future. German, Italian and Japanese fascists sought to occupy territories worldwide, killing local populations while plundering property and resources. Although their military superiority brought them temporary successes, their aggressive war could never truly succeed without the support of most nations. Their ultimate defeat was inevitable.

Only by remembering the lessons of the World Anti-Fascist War, jointly safeguarding international fairness and justice and upholding the international order and rules, can we truly ensure world peace, development and prosperity.

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