By Nkechi Eze
The Chinese Embassy in Nigeria has commemorated the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War with a solemn film screening and renewed calls for global peace, unity, and multilateral cooperation.
At the event held in Abuja, Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Yu Dunhai, described the anniversary as both a remembrance of history and a reminder of the responsibility of nations to safeguard peace. He recalled the atrocities committed during the Japanese invasion of China, including the 1937 Nanjing Massacre in which more than 300,000 civilians and soldiers were brutally killed.
Ambassador Yu referred to the massacre as “one of the darkest chapters in modern history and a profound, enduring sorrow in the hearts of the Chinese people.” He explained that the featured film, Dead to Rights, drew inspiration from these tragic events, giving audiences an opportunity to reflect on the horrors of war and the enduring lessons of history.
The envoy highlighted China’s pivotal role in the Eastern battlefield of World War II, noting that at the cost of over 35 million lives and more than $600 billion in economic losses, China dealt decisive blows to Japanese fascism, curtailed its expansion, and contributed immensely to global peace and order. “Let history be our guide. Let us preserve, with unwavering resolve, the hard-won outcomes of World War II. Together, let us steer the global order toward a future defined by fairness, justice, and equality for all,” he said.
Yu further stressed that China and Nigeria, as major developing nations and leading voices of the Global South, share a common responsibility to safeguard the outcomes of World War II, uphold the principles of the UN Charter, and advance global justice and peace.
Also speaking at the commemoration, Mr. Lawal Sale, public affairs analyst and publisher of Global South Focus News Online, described the occasion as both emotional and instructive. He revisited the Nanjing Massacre, observing that Japan has yet to formally acknowledge responsibility for the atrocity. “The resilience the Chinese people showed during that war demonstrated their strength as a nation. Today’s China is a testament to that spirit of unity and perseverance,” he said.
Drawing parallels for Nigeria, Sale urged citizens to embrace unity as the foundation for national strength. “The Chinese won because they saw themselves as one Chinese nation. We Nigerians should also see ourselves as one people, not northerners, southerners, or easterners, but one Nigerian nation,” he declared.
Sale also praised China’s peace-oriented foreign policy, describing it as consistent and principled. He noted that China has historically supported peacekeeping efforts without resorting to the supply of weapons or instigating wars. He cited the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), co-founded by China and Russia, as a model of China’s leadership in promoting international security, dialogue, and cooperation. “China is the number one peacemaker in the world. Wherever there is conflict, China’s role has been to promote peace and stability. This is a lesson the Global South must embrace,” he added.
The anniversary event, marked with film, reflection, and diplomatic dialogue, reinforced the call for nations to resist the dangers of division and aggression and instead promote unity, justice, and lasting peace. It also highlighted the growing alignment between China and Nigeria in championing multilateralism, mutual respect, and cooperation in the face of global challenges.
