Scholars have commended Russia and China for their huge contributions to the victory of the Allied Powers in World War II (WWII) and establishment of the postwar international order following a Russia-China international scholarly forum held in Moscow two weeks ago. The forum, themed “Reviewing History, Looking into Future and Cherishing Peace,” hosted in-depth discussions on the role of the Soviet Union and China in triumphing over fascism and Japanese militarism in WWII.

It has been 70 years since the end of WWII, but the achievements of the war are still being openly challenged and historical facts are being distorted. In the seven decades since the war, some historical issues have not been clearly understood and properly handled. Instead, they threaten the stability and harmony of the Asia-Pacific region and even the world at large, scholars said.

Zang Yunhu, a professor from the Department of History at Peking University who attended the forum, said both Chinese and Russian scholars condemned Japanese politicians for stirring up controversy about historical issues and twisting history after WWII, particularly at present.

He recalled that Russian scholars criticized some countries for denying WWII accomplishments due to influences of conservative forces in Europe, calling for vigilance against destruction of global postwar order.

Alexander Lukin, director of the Center for East Asia and Shanghai Cooperation Organization Studies at Moscow State Institute of International Relations, took Poland and Germany as examples, noting the two countries have attempted to review and rewrite historical truths by jointly establishing a historical research committee.

Moreover, due to the Crimea incident, leaders of the US and major European countries were absent from the spectacular Red Square parade held on May 9 merely to contain and disparage Russia, Lukin said.

Some countries have brazenly challenged the conclusion of the WWII victory, resulting in the distortion of some postwar issues, said Li Yuanyuan, president of Jilin University.

“We should continuously conduct in-depth historical research to deeply understand the cruelty of war, defend the achievements of fighting fascism and Japanese militarism, and maintain world peace and security,” Li added.

History tolerates no distortion. As a major participant and victorious nation in WWII, China had earlier fought Japan.

Some Chinese scholars have proposed counting September 18, 1931, the day when Japan instigated the September 18 Incident, or July 7, 1937, when Japan provoked the Macro Polo Bridge Incident, as the starting point of WWII. The proposal is under discussion in international academia, which nevertheless signals changes in the cognition of the status and role of the China battlefield in WWII.

Russian scholars fully endorsed the positive role China played in the war. Dimitri Sorokin, vice president of the State University of Finance and Economics under the Government of the Russian Federation, said that WWII was a worldwide war with Eurasia as one of its major theaters.

Against Japanese aggressors, the Chinese people fought dauntlessly at the core of the battle with tens of millions of soldiers and civilians dead, making an indelible contribution to supporting and helping Russia, Europe and the world to achieve the final victory, he said.

When combating German and Italian fascism, it was the Soviet Union that made the heaviest sacrifices and biggest contribution, which is an undeniable truth, Sorokin said.

China played an undeniable role in the victory of WWII. Chen Qianping, director of the History of the Republic of China Research Center at Nanjing University, mentioned scholars from Europe and the US who have backed the position of China by voicing dissenting views from traditional conclusions in the two regions.

Among such scholars is Professor Hans van de Ven from the University of Cambridge, who contended that previous studies in the US and the UK placed too much emphasis on Europe and overlooked China. Another is Professor Rana Mitter from the University of Oxford, who also stressed the positive role of China in the war.

“We cannot deny important contributions made by the US and the UK, but we must also objectively and fairly affirm the decisive roles China and the Soviet Union played in defeating militarist Japan and Nazi Germany,” Chen said.

The event was co-hosted by the Russia-China Friendship Association, Institute of Far Eastern Studies at the Russian Academy of Science, China-Russia Friendship Association and Jilin University. As a part of commemorative activities for the 70th anniversary of the victory of China and Russia in WWII, the forum received congratulation letters from Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The Chinese version appeared in Chinese Social Sciences Today, No. 737, May 13, 2015.

The Chinese link: http://sscp.cssn.cn/xkpd/xszx/gn/201505/t20150513_1789856.html

　　Translated by Chen Mirong

　　Revised by Tom Fearon