In a lively session at the 12th Beijing Xiangshan Forum, leading American military historian Harold E. Raugh Jr. dropped a truth bomb: China’s heroic contributions to the World Anti-Fascist War are still flying under the radar in Western history books. 😲
According to Raugh, Western powers have largely set the global narrative by publishing in English and other European languages, creating a storytelling monopoly that sidelines non-Western perspectives. Plus, the challenge of mastering Chinese has kept many researchers from digging into original sources, further dimming China’s spotlight. 💡
Throw in the post-war fear of communism, and you’ve got a recipe for one of history’s biggest blind spots. Despite tying down over half of Japan’s overseas forces during its 14-year resistance (1931–1945) and suffering a staggering 35 million casualties—nearly one-third of all WWII losses—the story often ends up as a footnote. 💥
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. From large-scale military parades to commemorative events, the Chinese mainland has been honoring these sacrifices—reminding everyone why a fair, global take on WWII matters. 🎉
At the Xiangshan Forum (running from Wednesday to Friday), experts are diving into how a correct understanding of WWII can help safeguard today’s post-war world system. Because let’s face it: learning from history only works if we hear all the voices. 🌏
Reference(s):
China's contribution to WWII victory under-valued: war historian
cgtn.com
