Foreword

The 80th Anniversary of Victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War

The Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (War of Resistance) began with the September 18 Incident in 1931 and ended with victory in 1945, lasting for 14 years. It was not only the Chinese people's longest-lasting, largest-scale and most hard-fought battle against foreign invasion for national liberation in modern times, but also their first outright triumph in the struggle for national liberation. The victory in the War of Resistance marked a historic turning point where the Chinese nation emerged from a grave crisis and moved toward the great rejuvenation, powerfully defending national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and completely erasing the national humiliation of repeated defeats by foreign aggression in modern times. As the main eastern battlefield of the World Anti-Fascist War, the War of Resistance was a crucial part in the global fight against fascism.

In the face of aggression, all ethnicities, classes, political parties and patriots across the country, compatriots from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, and overseas Chinese united as one and devoted themselves to this righteous cause, fighting bravely against the enemy. During the War of Resistance, Hong Kong people stood side by side, joining anti-Japanese groups and forces behind enemy lines, such as the Hong Kong-Kowloon Brigade of the Guangdong People's Anti-Japanese Guerrilla Force, to fight on the front line, while leveraging Hong Kong's unique geographical position to provide full support in terms of supplies for the motherland's battle against Japan. Further, they helped rescue patriotic democrats and intellectuals etc. on numerous occasions, and launched anti-Japanese publicity campaigns to seek international recognition and support for China's resistance, thereby making remarkable contributions to the War of Resistance and displaying a noble sense of patriotism.

The victory in the War of Resistance was a great triumph of the national spirit with patriotism at its core, a great triumph of the Communist Party of China in playing a pivotal role, a great triumph of the entire nation in resisting the enemy with unity and courage, and a great triumph of the Chinese people in fighting against fascism alongside the anti-fascist allies and peoples around the globe. The victory showed the world the patriotic commitment to shouldering responsibility for the country's fate, the national integrity marked by an indomitable will even in the face of death, the heroic spirit of standing firm against aggression to the end, and the unwavering faith in victory sustained by tenacity and perseverance, all of which contributed significantly to the triumph in the World Anti-Fascist War.

The year 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of victory in the War of Resistance and the World Anti-Fascist War. To deepen and broaden public understanding of the history of the War of Resistance and the significance of its victory, and to foster the patriotic sentiment and national spirit, the HKSAR Government will host diverse forms of commemorative and educational activities, while co-ordinating and supporting commemorative events organised by community organisations as appropriate.

President Xi Jinping once said: "War is a mirror. Looking at it helps us better appreciate the value of peace." In commemorating the 80th anniversary of victory in the War of Resistance and the World Anti-Fascist War, we remember history, honour martyrs, cherish peace, and create a great future. Imprinting in our mind the experiences and lessons of history is not to perpetuate animosity, but rather to awakening kind-hearted people's yearning for and commitment to peace, to learn from history and embrace the future, and to join hands in cherishing and safeguarding peace, so that the peoples of China and Japan can maintain a close bond of friendship throughout generations, and the peoples of the world can enjoy lasting peace and tranquillity.