05/09/2026
Forged in Pain and Fire: WWII History to Defend —— Joint Opinion Article by Ambassadors of China and Russia to New Zealand
September 3rd marks the 81st Anniversary of the End of World War II.
The Allies’ victory in World War II laid the foundation of the United Nations that was established in 1945 with the aims, as stipulated at its Charter, “to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war”. Another outcome was a huge wave of liberation and decolonization movements that led to the appearance of many new independent states, with most of the Pacific countries among them. The results were crucial, yet the price was extremely high.
Nearly 80 percent of the world’s population were drawn into the fiery orbit of hostilities. As the primary theaters of military operations in Europe and Asia, the Soviet Union and China bore the brunt of World War II. Altogether their casualties accounted for over half of the deaths worldwide. Most losses were among civilians who suffered greatly from the Axis powers’ war crimes. Lest we forget the Chinese and Soviet people’s sacrifice for the victory as well as the contribution of other Allies, including New Zealand, to crushing Na**sm and fascism and fighting for a peaceful future!
According to the Nuremberg and Tokyo Trials, the war crimes committed by the Axis were carried out on an unprecedented scale and accompanied by atrocities and terror of unimaginable magnitude. During World War II, the killing and brutal treatment of civilians reached extreme levels. Based on exhaustive evidence, the proceedings concluded that these crimes were part of a plan to expel and exterminate the civilian population in order to colonize the occupied territories.
During World War II, Japanese militarists’ war of aggression and innumerable crimes inflicted immense suffering on the people of China, Russia and elsewhere across Asia, resulting in the deaths of tens of millions of innocent people. 80 years have passed, it is painful to see that Japan has not fully reflected on its past crimes. Instead, shielded and encouraged by outside forces, it now attempts openly to whitewash its aggression and even to return openly to a militarist path. This constitutes a direct challenge to the outcome of Tokyo Trials – indeed to the entire post-war international order – and a brutal trampling on the conscience of humanity. Some Japanese politicians have kept visiting and paying respect to Yasukuni Shrine, where Class-A war criminals are honored. These moves have caused strong condemnation and grave concern from Russia, China and other neighboring countries.
We must remember the global tragedy of World War II as a valuable lesson, no matter how much time has passed. Past lessons guide better choices today. That’s why it is crucial to strongly resist any try to falsify the history of those events, whitewash criminals, slander the true victors by denying or diminishing their role.
Russia and China have a common mission: to defend the historical truth and counter attempts to revise the internationally recognized outcomes of World War II. Both countries consider it vital to respect and uphold the principles established by the Nuremberg and Tokyo Trials — principles aimed at preventing wars, genocides, war crimes, torture, and other crimes against humanity. The verdicts of both tribunals constitute a solid foundation of modern international law and the global order, one that is not subject to revision.
China and Russia make every effort to rebuff the increasingly frequent attempts to rehabilitate the misanthropic ideology of Na**sm and racial superiority. It is very encouraging that the biggest part of the international community shares their position on opposing glorification of Na**sm and justification of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. Annually, the respective UN General Assembly resolution – sponsored by Russia and co-sponsored by China and 43 other countries – is supported by the overwhelming majority of member-states. Last year, 119 nations voted for this document. Unfortunately, New Zealand is not among them being in the minority, although Kiwis were actively involved in the fight against Na**sm and won fame on the battlefields of World War II.
It is obvious that unwillingness of some countries to support the above resolution is politically motivated — the world is divided on ideological grounds, geopolitical tensions are increasing. Nevertheless, back in the days of World War II, New Zealand and many other nations were on the right side of the history and their cause was just.
Russia and China are determined to stand firmly on the side of international justice and prepared, together with the peace-loving peoples of all nations, to resolutely uphold the post-war world order for the sake of building a bright future for all mankind.
https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/KDYagNo4vJ9T3NgTR_2ayg
