The Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) released an anti-Japanese aggression war song, "The Sword March," and a themed poster on December 13, China's National Memorial Day for Nanjing Massacre Victims.

The song was accompanied by a video combining scenes from film and television productions depicting Chinese soldiers' wartime heroism with footage highlighting China's modern military capabilities, including warships, military aircraft, missile systems and military exercises.

"The Sword March" is a well-known song from the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. It is inspired by the 1933 Battle of Xifengkou, during which the "Broadsword Unit" of the Chinese army carried out a night assault on Japanese forces in Xifengkou, now in north China's Hebei Province, achieving a decisive victory and seizing a large amount of equipment.

News of the unit's success quickly spread nationwide, and the unit went on to score military victories in subsequent battles. Deeply inspired by these events, composer Mai Xin created "The Sword March." With its concise, powerful lyrics and forceful rhythm, the song rapidly gained popularity across the country and strongly boosted the morale and resistance spirit of both soldiers and civilians.

In a statement on its official WeChat account, the Eastern Theater Command said the release of the song and poster was intended to remind the Chinese military to remain vigilant amid signs of a resurgence of Japanese militarism, stressing that militarism must never be allowed to return and that historical tragedies must never be repeated.

The PLA Eastern Theater Command is one of the PLA's five theater commands. Headquartered in Nanjing, in east China's Jiangsu Province, it is responsible for military defense across Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Fujian and Jiangxi provinces, as well as Shanghai. Its naval forces primarily focus on security issues in the East China Sea and the Taiwan Strait.