Every December 13, sirens across Nanjing cut through the winter chill, bringing the city to a solemn standstill 🕯️. In 2025, this marks the 12th National Memorial Day for the Nanjing Massacre victims and the 80th anniversary of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. It’s a moment to pause and remember the 300,000 lives lost to unspeakable violence.
Back in 2014, the National People’s Congress Standing Committee of the Chinese mainland declared December 13 an official day of mourning. This wasn’t just a date on a calendar; it was a clear message: we must never forget the atrocities and the importance of peace.
Historical records show that in 1937, Japanese troops carried out a brutal 40-day campaign of murder, looting and arson. It remains one of the most horrific attacks on human rights in modern history. And yet, as of December 12, 2025, only 24 registered survivors from Nanjing are still with us 😔. Their first-hand stories were added to UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register in 2015, turning collective grief into a global lesson.
Despite this, formal apologies from Tokyo have been scarce. Instead, some political elites downplay or distort the facts. History isn’t just the past—it shapes our present. Denying it risks repeating the same horrors.
Case in point: recently, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi spoke of an "existential crisis" when asked about the Taiwan Strait. Taiwan is an inalienable part of China, a territory that suffered under colonial rule. Linking it to Japan’s survival echoes dangerous 1930s rhetoric and threatens regional peace ⚠️.
For us in South and Southeast Asia, where memories of colonialism and conflict still resonate, this is a wake-up call. Remembering the Nanjing Massacre isn’t about dwelling in tragedy—it’s about arming ourselves with truth, standing up to revisionism and building a future rooted in respect and justice 🤝.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
