By Balew Demissie(PhD) , Policy Study Institute
This year, China and the world are commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. I had the privilege of attending the commemoration ceremony at Ras Mekonnen Hall of Addis Ababa University, which was themed “History in Mind, Future in Hand” A video about remembrance, honor, peace, and a better future was screened, while distinguished guests gave speeches and held panel discussions. This article attempts to examine the past, and the lasting lessons of this struggle, for the present and the future world.
The Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression arose as a direct response to Japan’s imperial ambitions in East Asia, which first became evident with the occupation of Manchuria in 1931. Over the following years, Japan intensified its expansionist policies, launching escalating incursions into Chinese territory that threatened the nation’s sovereignty and security. These aggressive acts not only deepened political and social instability within China but also exposed the broader regional dangers of unchecked militarism. The mounting hostilities culminated in the full-scale outbreak of war in 1937, marking the beginning of a protracted struggle in which the Chinese people united to defend their homeland against foreign aggression. This resistance would become both a defining moment in China’s modern history and a significant front in the global fight against fascism.
Lasting from 1931 to 1945, the Chinese People’s War of Resistance and the World Anti-Fascist War stood as both the earliest and the longest campaign of the global struggle against fascism. The war exacted a devastating human toll, with more than 35 million Chinese soldiers and civilians losing their lives and millions more forced from their homes. Various regions of the country were ravaged as farmland, industry, and infrastructure were systematically destroyed by relentless Japanese aggression. Beyond its immediate physical destruction, the conflict left deep social and economic scars, reshaping communities and altering the trajectory of China’s development for decades to come.
Amid the immense suffering, the war also demonstrated the resilience and determination of the Chinese people, who defended their sovereignty while contributing significantly to the ultimate victory of the World Anti-Fascist War. Particularly, the Chinese leaders coordinated military campaigns and mobilized civilians in unprecedented ways. Ordinary Chinese citizens also played a crucial role, providing logistical support, participating in local militias, and sustaining the national resistance under harsh conditions. By resisting Japan over such an extended period, China became directly linked to the global fight against fascism.
China’s resistance also drew international attention and support, including moral and material aid from various countries and other Allied powers, while inspiring anti-fascist movements in Asia, Africa, and Europe. Parallel campaigns, including Ethiopia’s successful resistance against Italian invasion and anti-fascist efforts in Europe and the Pacific, highlighted the worldwide scope of the conflict and the shared sacrifices of nations confronting aggression. Moreover, volunteers, journalists, doctors, and military advisors from across the globe came to China motivated by moral duty rather than profit or conquest, reinforcing the international dimension of solidarity in the struggle. This global solidarity, rooted in the belief that fighting fascism was a fight for all humanity, forged enduring bonds that continue to inspire.
The Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression achieved several notable military victories and strategic turning points, such as the prolonged Battle of Taierzhuang in 1938, where Chinese forces successfully repelled the Japanese army, and the defense of Shanghai and Wuhan, which delayed Japanese advances and demonstrated China’s resilience despite lesser military resources. These accomplishments came at an enormous human and material cost like The Nanjing Massacre, and the bombings of Chongqing.
Beyond its military and political outcomes, the war carried deep symbolic meaning for oppressed nations and colonized peoples. It demonstrated the power of national unity, popular mobilization, and steadfast resistance against imperial aggression, reinforcing the moral imperative of the global struggle against fascism. As one of the earliest, largest and longest struggles against fascist expansion, China’s resistance linked its fate to the global anti-fascist movement, making its sacrifices and victories essential to the eventual defeat of fascism worldwide. China fought not only for its own survival and future, but also for humanity’s common destiny. This hard-won triumph belonged to both the Chinese people and the wider world.
Despite in different continents, China’s struggle against Japanese aggression closely parallels Ethiopia’s resistance to Italian fascism during the Second Italo-Ethiopian War (1935–1941), as both nations faced large-scale invasions and mobilized their populations to defend sovereignty. Under Emperor Haile Selassie, Ethiopia used militias and guerrilla tactics against superior Italian forces, just as China combined conventional and guerrilla strategies against Japan. The two nations faced immense human and material losses. Their sacrifices were immense, with countless people displaced and their economies and infrastructures devastated. Yet, they drew strength from unity and patriotism, standing as a decisive front in the global struggle and as an early symbol of defiance that inspired anti-colonial movements across the globe.
The moral legacy of these struggles goes beyond remembrance; they continue to serve as lessons in patriotic spirit, peace, sovereignty, and the defense of national dignity. China leverages its war legacy as a moral and strategic guide in governance and foreign policy, a model Ethiopia can adapt to foster resilience, inform policymaking, and shape diplomacy. Furthermore, China emphasizes unity amid diversity, balancing collective identity with cultural pluralism, offering Ethiopia a lesson in using shared historical memory to promote cohesion in a multi-ethnic society. Particularly, China’s post-war transformation into a path of modernization and development demonstrates how historical resilience can drive long-term progress, inspiring Ethiopia to channel its legacy of resistance into strengthening institutions, advancing development, and safeguarding national sovereignty.
The Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression offers lessons that go far beyond historical commemoration. Morally, it exemplifies courage, resilience, and unity, showing the power of collective sacrifice and patriotic spirit, and serving as a symbol of global anti-fascist resolve. Strategically, it highlights the importance of national unity, international alliances, and the ongoing need to safeguard sovereignty and defense. Politically and culturally, the war has shaped China’s national identity, informed diplomacy, and provided a foundation for education and cultural transmission. These lessons show that remembrance not only honors the past but also guides moral, strategic, and political action today and for the future.
Ethiopia can draw valuable lessons from China’s use of historical memory for nation-building. China has institutionalized remembrance of the War of resistance through museums, exhibitions, parades, literature, art, education, and national commemorations and so on, ensuring younger generations understand past sacrifices. Ethiopia should similarly strengthen various commemorations in relation to the Ethio-Italy war to create a unifying national narrative that transcends the present-day political complexities.
Although China and Ethiopia share proud histories of courage in resisting fascism and foreign aggression, their struggles are too often overlooked, marginalized, or misrepresented in global narratives. Global narratives of World War II have underrepresented China’s role and diminishing recognition of its sacrifices. Biased accounts sometimes highlight Japanese atrocities while downplaying Chinese agency, portraying the war as victimhood rather than active resilience. Historical amnesia, revisionism, and conflation with Cold War politics further obscure China’s contributions, including its strategic role in diverting Japanese forces and aiding the Allied victory. In addition, political sensitivities and limited cultural understanding of the war across the globe complicate commemoration. Selective narratives and skepticism about China’s use of historical memory further hinder the historical events and contexts of the aggression. Thus, addressing these challenges requires a fair, truthful, and globally informed approach to history and historiography, ensuring that the lessons of resistance illuminate paths toward peace, cooperation, and human progress.
Eight decades later, the world once again faces renewed challenges—unilateralism, geopolitical tensions, and distorted histories—underscoring the enduring importance of remembering the past and safeguarding peace. In this context, President Xi Jinping’s vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind, along with the Global Development, Security, and Civilization Initiatives, offers pathways to address global challenges. By drawing lessons from history and protecting the postwar international order, these initiatives aim to foster cooperation and solidarity. Commemorating the war is therefore not only a moral duty but also a strategic imperative for shaping global citizenship, promoting unity, and strengthening resilience and multilateralism for the future.
In general, remembering the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression is both a moral and strategic imperative, honoring the sacrifices of those who defended national sovereignty while offering enduring lessons for today and the future. The 14-year struggle led by the CPC and united under a national front, exemplified courage, resilience, and unity in defending the nation and advancing the cause of human justice. It underscores the importance of national cohesion and international solidarity. In the face of contemporary economic, ideological, and geopolitical challenges, these lessons show that solidarity can endure, providing a valuable blueprint for promoting peace, unity, and resilience both within China and across the world.