In Liaoning's Shenyang, in the midst of mid-autumn,
on a giant calendar-shaped stele,
time stands frozen at
95 years ago today -
September 18, 1931.
The arduous and heroic struggle of the Chinese nation,
began from here.
The 'Broken Calendar' stele at the September 18th History Museum in Shenyang, Liaoning, photographed on September 1, 2026. Photo by Xinhua reporter Pan Yulong.
The night of September 18, 1931:
the Japanese army blew up the Liutiaohu section of the South Manchuria Railway on its own,
then falsely accused the Chinese army of the deed,
and thereupon shelled the Beidaying barracks in Shenyang.
Overnight,
Shenyang fell.
A few months later,
the Northeast was occupied.
Within a few years,
more than half of China was lost
beneath the iron hooves of the Japanese invaders.
A broken land,
soaked through with blood, tears, and suffering.
The sons and daughters of China -
their grief and hatred too deep to be fully told!
To resist is to live; not to resist is to die -
a clarion call that shakes the deaf.
It struck the hearts of the Chinese people,
a fearless sense of responsibility.
The site where the Japanese army deliberately staged the Liutiaohu Incident on September 18, 1931 - the opening of the September 18 Incident (file photo). Issued by Xinhua.
There was no other path but resistance!
The day after the September 18 Incident,
the 'Manifesto of the Manchuria Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China on the Armed Occupation of Manchuria by Japanese Imperialism'
was pasted across the streets and alleys of Shenyang.
Subsequently,
the 'Declaration of the Communist Party of China on the Violent Occupation of the Three Northeastern Provinces by Japanese Imperialism'
and a series of other manifestos and resolutions were issued,
calling on the people of the whole nation to rise up and resist the aggression.
Communists such as Yang Jingyu, Zhao Shangzhi, and Zhao Yiman
to organize the struggle against Japan.
From left: Yang Jingyu, Zhao Shangzhi, Zhao Yiman.
A unit of the 2nd Division of the 1st Route Army of the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army (file photo). Issued by Xinhua.
The last bowl of rice was sent to be army rations;
the last length of cloth was used to sew military uniforms;
the last child was sent to the battlefield.
...
Under the banner of the
Anti-Japanese National United Front initiated and established by the Communist Party of China,
all political parties, all ethnic groups, all strata, and all social organizations
shared a common hatred of the enemy and faced the national crisis together;
workers, farmers, soldiers, students, and merchants stood as one,
composing an awe-inspiring epic of the War of Resistance.
14 years of bloody battle,
14 years of arduous struggle,
400 million people fought unyieldingly,
that shines in the annals of the Chinese nation and of human peace alike.
Visitors at the Museum of the War of Chinese People's Resistance Against Japanese Aggression on August 15, 2026. Photo by Xinhua reporter Zhang Xiaoyu.
China today
defends peace with its strength,
and embraces the world with an open heart.
History has already proven,
and will continue to prove:
the self-reliant Chinese people
a staunch force for safeguarding world peace and development.
The site of the ceremony commemorating the 89th anniversary of the outbreak of the nationwide War of Resistance, photographed on July 7, 2026. Photo by Xinhua reporter Zhang Ling.
In recent years,
Japan has accelerated its 'remilitarization,'
openly expanding its armaments and military buildup,
a series of dangerous moves
that bear an uncanny resemblance to the militarism that prepared for and launched war before World War II.
If a nation that once eagerly
launched wars of external aggression,
and has not truly reflected upon its historical guilt,
is rearmed into a 'war-capable' state,
the tragedy of history may well be repeated.
The lessons of history are not far off.
Those who undermine peace and challenge the conscience of justice
will surely be brought to account by history once again,
The 'Never Forget National Humiliation' alarm bell at the 'Broken Calendar' stele plaza of the September 18th History Museum in Shenyang, Liaoning, photographed on September 1, 2026. Photo by Xinhua reporter Pan Yulong.
History has not receded;
the alarm bell rings forever.
History warns us:
the destiny of humanity is one shared community;
only when all nations and all peoples
treat each other as equals, live in harmony, and watch over and help one another
can common security be upheld,
and the roots of war extinguished -
so that the tragedy of history is not repeated!
The great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation
is unstoppable!
The noble cause of world peace and development
will surely prevail!
转载来源：新华社
