China sends anti-war message on first Martyrs' Day

On the eve of the National Day, Chinese leaders joined ordinary citizens in the Tian'anmen Square Tuesday to commemorate deceased national heroes on the first Martyrs' Day, sending a clear anti-war message to the world.

The Martyrs' Day was approved by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) -- China's top legislature -- last month to remember those who sacrificed their lives for national independence and prosperity, as well as the welfare of the people in modern times, or after the First Opium War (1840-1842).

The move is aimed at "publicizing martyrs' achievements and spirits, and cultivating patriotism, collectivism, and socialist moralities so as to consolidate the Chinese nation's cohesiveness," the NPC Standing Committee said in the decision.

Besides those martyrs who lost their lives for the common good, most Chinese martyrs died in wars in the last two centuries.

In the anti-Japanese war (1937-1945) alone, more than 35 million Chinese soldiers and civilians were killed or injured during the eight-year aggression, which was one of the bloodiest man-made catastrophe committed by Japan in human history.

It must be remembered that hundreds of thousands of Chinese faced up to Japanese aggressors unflinchingly and fought the aggressor troops with no fear of death.

With the martyrs' sacrifice, the Chinese people contributed greatly to the victory of the world's anti-fascism warfare in the first half of the 20th century.

In addition to providing assistance and information to other Allied countries, China sent an expedition army to fight Japanese aggressor troops and support other Allied troops in an area that covered southwest China's Yunnan province, Myanmar and India.

According to official archives, some 400,000 soldiers were mobilized for the expedition, but only half of them survived.

With huge losses of lives and remarkable efforts in and outside its own land, China has left an indelible mark on the anti-war history of mankind.

Honoring martyrs is also required by the current situation in the world, especially when Japan's right-wingers have long been twisting facts in history with a slew of shameless moves including textbook revision and provocative visits to the notorious Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo by unscrupulous politicians, which honors Class A war criminals, in a bid to deny and whitewash the history of aggression.

The act of glossing over history does not merely infuriate people from countries invaded by Japan, but is also a blasphemy to the martyrs who died in the cause of peace, justice and liberalization.

Those who distort history are doomed to be pinned on the shame pole of history. Martyrs' lives shall not be lost in vain.

From this year on, China will mark the Martyrs' Day on every Sept. 30 to unite all peace-loving people worldwide together to pray that peace and love will prevail, while war and conflicts will fade away.