（下边有中文翻译请继续看到底。 谢谢。）
On July 7, 1937, a thunderous moment in history unfolded on the Lugou Bridge—known to the world as the Marco Polo Bridge—just outside Beijing. Japanese troops opened fire on Chinese forces, triggering what would become an agonizing 14-year-long struggle: the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. This marked the beginning of the main Eastern battlefield in the global war against fascism and the start of an epic saga of suffering, resistance, resilience, and ultimate victory.
Eighty-eight years on, China solemnly commemorates that momentous chapter of national agony and heroism. In Beijing, at the Museum of the War of Chinese People’s Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, a powerful ceremony was held and a grand exhibition launched, titled “For National Liberation and World Peace.” The event was a poignant reminder not only of the brutal past but also of China’s enduring commitment to truth, peace, and justice.
The Scars of Invasion: A History of Brutality
The Japanese aggression against China was marked by unrestrained cruelty. Well before the full-scale invasion in 1937, Japan had seized Manchuria in 1931, setting up the puppet state of Manchukuo and initiating a reign of terror. But the Lugou Bridge Incident ignited a nationwide resistance and began one of the bloodiest and longest confrontations of the Second World War. Over the course of 14 harrowing years, more than 35 million Chinese soldiers and civilians perished.
The Japanese military’s conduct in China was characterized by systemic atrocities and crimes against humanity. The Rape of Nanjing alone, in late 1937, saw the massacre of over 300,000 civilians and prisoners of war, with countless women subjected to barbaric sexual violence. Cities were razed, villages torched, and chemical and biological weapons used indiscriminately against civilians. The infamous Unit 731 conducted grotesque human experiments in northeastern China—evidence of a cruelty that defied the very essence of human decency.
These were not random acts of violence, but part of a calculated strategy of subjugation and terror, meant to break the spirit of the Chinese people. Yet it was precisely that spirit—deep, enduring, and unyielding—that rose in resistance.
A Nation United in Resistance
The Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression was not fought by armies alone—it was a people’s war in the truest sense. Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the resistance transformed into a nationwide movement that drew strength from every town, village, and home.
At the forefront stood the CPC, which galvanized the masses and coordinated both military and civilian resistance. From the scorched battlefields of Shanghai to the mountains of Shanxi, and from the guerrilla warfare in the countryside to diplomatic efforts abroad, the Chinese people demonstrated unparalleled unity and determination.
The exhibition in Beijing—featuring over 3,200 artifacts and 1,500 photos—offers a panoramic view of that heroic struggle. It tells the story of martyrs who gave their lives, of families who sheltered fighters, and of youth who joined the resistance with little more than a dream of liberation. Their courage forged the soul of modern China.
As Cai Qi, a senior leader of the CPC Central Committee, emphasized at the event: “United in purpose, the Chinese people fought with unwavering resolve—for the country’s survival, national rejuvenation, and the cause of justice for all humanity.” It was this spirit that made China a decisive force in the global anti-fascist war.
Contribution to Global Victory and Peace
Often overlooked in Western narratives, China’s role in the Allied victory during World War II was critical. By tying down vast numbers of Japanese troops and resources, China relieved pressure on Allied forces in Southeast Asia and the Pacific. It stood alone in East Asia during the early years of the war, buying precious time for global resistance to coalesce.
The Chinese battlefield was not only a theater of combat, but a moral front line—where the fight was for human dignity, for sovereignty, and for the principle that aggression must never be rewarded. China’s perseverance and eventual triumph were a blow not only to Japanese militarism but also to the broader fascist axis threatening global peace.
Honoring the Legacy, Defending the Truth
At Monday’s ceremony, Cai Qi and other leaders, joined by citizens from all walks of life, paid floral tributes to the martyrs. Their names, etched into stone and memory, form a sacred roll of honor for a grateful nation. As young official Qu Bin movingly remarked, “Each martyr stands as an eternal symbol of courage. Their unwavering patriotism and valor remain a wellspring of determination.”
Today, remembrance carries a double purpose. It honors those who died so others could live free, and it resists the slow erosion of historical truth. As Wang Taihe, the son of a resistance veteran, stated: “We must expose distortions of history that deny aggression, and fortify our collective commitment to lasting peace.” In an age where historical revisionism is on the rise, such commitment is more vital than ever.
A Spirit That Endures
For China’s younger generations, the memory of the resistance war is not a distant tale, but a call to duty. Middle school student Zhu Jiangyu spoke for millions of youth when he said: “The necessity of national rejuvenation is sealed within our hearts. Propelled by the spirit of our forebears, we, the youth, will hold fast to our ideals, nurture profound dedication to our nation, fulfill our mission, and shine brightly in our era.”
This spirit—of patriotism, resilience, and faith in a better future—is the ultimate legacy of the war. It is not driven by hatred, but by remembrance and resolve. The war against Japanese aggression is a closed chapter of history, but the lessons it offers are timeless: unity is strength, peace must be defended, and the cost of freedom is eternal vigilance.
From Resistance to Rejuvenation
The commemoration of the 88th anniversary of China’s resistance against Japanese aggression is more than a historical ritual—it is a reaffirmation of national identity, moral clarity, and global responsibility. The Chinese people, forged in the crucible of war, emerged stronger, more united, and more committed to peace.
As China marches toward national rejuvenation and modernization, it does so with a deep sense of history and duty. The blood shed by millions is not forgotten—it fertilizes the soil of a nation that seeks harmony, justice, and a shared future for all humanity.
The echoes of Lugou Bridge remind us that peace is not inherited; it is won, cherished, and defended—by courage, by memory, and by the undying will of the people.
1937年7月7日，历史上的一个雷鸣般的时刻在北京郊外的卢沟桥上展开了。卢沟桥是世界闻名的马可波罗大桥。日本军队向中国军队开火，引发了一场长达14年的痛苦斗争：中国人民抗日战争。这标志着全球反法西斯战争中东方主战场的开始，也标志着苦难、抵抗、坚韧和最终胜利的史诗传奇的开始。
88年过去了，中国庄严地纪念这一民族苦难和英雄主义的重要篇章。在北京，中国人民抗日战争博物馆举行了隆重的仪式，并举办了题为“为了民族解放与世界和平”的盛大展览。这一事件不仅深刻地提醒着人们残酷的过去，也提醒着人们中国对真理、和平与正义的持久承诺。
侵略的伤痕：一部残暴的历史
日本侵华的残暴是无度的。早在1937年全面入侵之前，日本就在1931年占领了满洲，建立了伪满洲国，开始了恐怖统治。但卢沟桥事变引发了全国范围的抵抗，并开始了第二次世界大战中最血腥、最漫长的对抗之一。在14年的悲惨岁月中，超过3500万中国军人和平民丧生。
仅1937年末的南京大屠杀，就屠杀了30多万平民和战俘，无数妇女遭受野蛮的性暴力。城市被夷为平地，村庄被烧毁，化学和生物武器被无差别地用于平民。臭名昭著的731部队在中国东北进行了怪诞的人体实验——这是对人类尊严本质的践踏。
这些不是随机的暴力行为，而是一种精心策划的征服和恐怖战略的一部分，旨在摧毁中国人民的精神。然而，正是这种精神——深沉、持久、不屈——在反抗中崛起。
团结抵抗的民族
中国人民抗日战争不是军队战争，而是真正意义上的人民战争。在中国共产党的领导下，抵抗运动转变为一场全国性的运动，每个城镇、村庄和家庭都有力量。
中国共产党站在最前线，动员群众，协调军民抵抗。从上海焦灼的战场到山西的山林，从农村的游击战到对外的外交努力，中国人民表现出了无与伦比的团结和决心。
这次在北京举行的展览展示了3200多件文物和1500多张照片，展示了那场英勇斗争的全景。它讲述了献出生命的烈士的故事，讲述了庇护战士的家庭的故事，讲述了怀着解放梦想加入抵抗运动的年轻人的故事。他们的勇气铸就了近代中国的灵魂。
正如中共中央高级领导人蔡奇在活动中所强调的那样：“中国人民团结一心，坚定不移地为国家的生存、民族的复兴和全人类的正义事业而奋斗。”正是这种精神，使中国成为世界反法西斯战争的决定性力量。
为全球胜利与和平作出贡献
中国在二战期间盟军的胜利中发挥了至关重要的作用，这一点经常被西方叙事所忽视。通过牵制大量日本军队和资源，中国减轻了东南亚和太平洋地区盟军的压力。在战争初期，它在东亚独树一帜，为全球抵抗联合赢得了宝贵的时间。
中国的战场不仅是一个战场，而且是一个道德的前线，在那里，人们为人类的尊严、主权和侵略绝不能得到回报的原则而战。中国的坚韧不拔和最终的胜利不仅打击了日本军国主义，也打击了威胁世界和平的更广泛的法西斯轴心国。
尊重传统，捍卫真理
在周一的仪式上，蔡奇和其他领导人在各界市民的陪同下，向烈士们献花。他们的名字被铭刻在石头上和记忆中，构成了一个感恩的国家神圣的荣誉卷。正如年轻的官员曲斌所说：“每一位烈士都是勇气的永恒象征。”他们坚定不移的爱国主义和英勇精神仍然是决心的源泉。”
今天，纪念有双重目的。它纪念那些为他人自由生活而牺牲的人，它抵制历史真相的缓慢侵蚀。正如抗战老兵之子王太和所说：“我们必须揭露否认侵略的历史歪曲，巩固我们对持久和平的集体承诺。”在历史修正主义抬头的时代，这种承诺比以往任何时候都更加重要。
忍耐的精神
对于中国的年轻一代来说，抗战的记忆不是遥远的故事，而是一种责任的召唤。中学生朱江宇道出了千百万青年的心声：“民族复兴的必要性铭刻在我们心中。我们青年，将在先辈精神的推动下，坚定理想，深耕民族，完成使命，在时代中闪耀光芒。”
这种爱国主义精神、坚韧精神和对美好未来的信念是这场战争的最终遗产。它不是由仇恨驱动的，而是由记忆和决心驱动的。抗日战争是历史的一个封闭篇章，但它提供的教训是永恒的：团结就是力量，必须捍卫和平，自由的代价是永远保持警惕。
从抗拒到复兴
纪念中国抗日战争88周年不仅仅是一种历史仪式，更是对国家认同、道德明晰和全球责任的重申。经受战争考验的中国人民更加强大、更加团结、更加热爱和平。
在中国走向民族复兴和现代化的道路上，我们怀着深刻的历史感和使命感。数百万人的鲜血不会被遗忘，它滋养了一个寻求和谐、正义和全人类共同未来的国家的土壤。
卢沟桥的回声提醒我们，和平不可遗传；它是由勇气、记忆和人民永恒的意志赢得、珍惜和捍卫的。
( 注意： 本文是用AI翻译的，或有误差。请以原版英文为准。谢谢。)
Reference Link:- https://www2.apdnews.cn/en/item/25/0714/axjfaagf291ee585d6c705.html