Reference News Network, September 4th report: Recently, Professor Rana Mitter of the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University gave an interview to reporters Yang Shilong and Liu Yanan of Reference News. He stated that the Chinese War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression was "a very important part" of the world's anti-fascist war, and China's contributions during World War II should be more widely recognized.
Professor Rana Mitter of the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University recently gave an interview with this newspaper's reporters, stating that the Chinese War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression was "a very important part" of the world's anti-fascist war, and China's contributions during World War II should be more widely recognized.
In his book "China, the Forgotten Ally: The Complete History of the Anti-Japanese War as Seen by Westerners," Mitter pointed out: "China was the main battlefield in the East. If China had surrendered to Japan or reached any kind of compromise at that time, the course of World War II would have been completely rewritten." In his view, after Japan launched a full-scale invasion of China, the persistence of China's resistance was of great significance. Millions of Japanese troops were sent to the Chinese battlefield rather than other parts of the Asia-Pacific region. Without China's contribution, the Allied forces would have faced "special difficulties" in achieving overall victory.
Mitter believes that 1938 was a very important year in the history of World War II. He said that at that time, China's situation looked very grim, with major cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Nanjing occupied by the Japanese army. "At that time, many people thought, how could China possibly resist an enemy like Japan, which was technologically advanced and powerful? However, China persisted in resisting, and this fact changed everything," Mitter emphasized the importance of China's continued warfare. "If China had surrendered in 1938, or made some sort of agreement with Japan at that time, then that history would have been completely different. This reminds us that the contributions made by China's early and tenacious resistance were very important, and they were an essential part of the war that eventually became a global conflict."
Mitter pointed out that Mao Zedong's "On Protracted War," published in 1938, is one of the most influential military strategy works of the 20th century. It is a work of profound value. Today, this book is still studied by teachers and students in military academies around the world, and it is discussed and researched by experts and scholars in academic settings. He said that "On Protracted War" proposed forms of guerrilla warfare that might be more effective in China. In areas infiltrated or controlled by the invading Japanese forces, the troops led by the Communist Party of China carried out effective strikes against the aggressors through various means.
Mitter told the reporter that the Second World War was definitely a severe test for China, and many subsequent impacts can still be seen even today. He gave an example, saying that China was proud of becoming a founding member of the United Nations and the first country to sign the UN Charter. It was China's contributions during World War II that earned its position in the United Nations.
Mitter said that the views of the outside world on China's role in the Second World War are influenced by a wide range of factors. The West still has a lack of understanding about China's efforts, sacrifices, and true importance in the Second World War. "There is still a lot of work to be done in discussing China's contributions during the Second World War. We should let politics step back and let history take center stage."
Regarding the recent research on the history of China's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, Mitter said: "In-depth and important research on China's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression has always been ongoing, and I believe that this area of research has developed significantly over time. Initially, a large amount of research focused on important topics such as elite politics and military strategies, and these fields remain very important because without understanding them, one cannot understand the full picture of the war. However, in recent years, there has been an increase in research on the social history of the war, including studying how invasion, occupation, and resistance changed Chinese society. People have also shown more interest in certain topics, such as the social changes brought about by the mass migration of China's population. In recent years, stories about ordinary people who suffered during the war have become more common. I think this is a positive development and should be strongly promoted, especially when there are still a few people (those who experienced the war as children) who can tell their stories through oral history and other memoirs."
Mitter also emphasized that the lessons from this war, as well as any other conflicts, are profound. War reminds us that we must not underestimate war and should recognize that it is one of the most destructive phenomena in human society. "We should use history to understand how to create peace in a lasting, just, and appropriate way."
Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7546061015096558114/
Statement: The article represents the personal views of the author. Please express your opinion by clicking on the [upvote/downvote] buttons below.