China plans national days on Nanjing Massacre, anti-Japanese war victory

(Xinhua) Updated: 2014-02-25 19:30

BEIJING - China's top legislature is considering designating September 3 as Victory Day of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, and December 13 as a national memorial day to commemorate those killed by Japanese aggressors during the Nanjing Massacre in the 1930s.

China plans national days on Nanjing Massacre, anti-Japanese war victory

China-Japan Relation

The two draft decisions will be discussed at the bi-monthly session of the Standing Committee of the National People's (NPC) Congress which runs from Tuesday through Thursday.

Victory Day a historical reminder

"The day must be set through legislative procedures to reflect the will of the Chinese people and remind us of the need to remember history, cherish peace and create a better future," said Li Shishi, director of the Legislative Affairs Commission of the NPC Standing Committee, while reporting to the legislative body.

The war against Japanese aggression was the first in modern history in which China won complete victory over foreign aggressors and an important part of the World Anti-Fascist War, Li said.

In recent years, lawmakers, political advisors and people from all walks of life have repeatedly proposed designating a day to mark the victory and institutionalizing national ceremonies of commemoration.

The draft decision to set the day was made to better commemorate heroic martyrs in the war and all the people who contributed victory in the conflict and to recall the arduous resistance against Japanese militarists' aggression, according to Li.

The draft decision was also aimed at displaying the important role of the Chinese people's anti-Japanese war in the entire World Anti-Fascist War and expressing China's stance of safeguarding national sovereignty, territorial solidarity and world peace, he said.

The official added that it is also intended to carry forward national spirit with its core of patriotism and inspire the drive to realize the Chinese dream of national rejuvenation.

Nanjing Massacre memorial day a state-level tribute to victims

Japanese troops started the massacre in Nanjing on December 13, 1937, killing more than 300,000 people in the following 40-odd days.

As a flagrant violation of international laws, the atrocity was tried by the International Military Tribunal for the Far East and the Nanjing War Crimes Tribunal, which have already rendered a verdict based on irrefutable evidence, said Li.

"It is extremely necessary to set a national memorial day for the Nanjing Massacre victims and hold public memorial services and other activities on the national level," Li said.

The draft decision was made to mourn the victims of the massacre and all those killed during the Japanese aggression against China, exposing the war crimes of Japanese invaders, he said.

The occasion is expected to serve as a reminder of calamities the war caused for Chinese people and the world, and as an expression of the Chinese people's stance of combating aggression and safeguarding human dignity and world peace, according to the official.

Lawmakers, political advisors and people from all walks of life have repeatedly proposed setting December 13 the national memorial day for the victims, Li said.