RIA Novosti Weibo post on September 3: “【】On September 2, 1945, Japan signed the instrument of unconditional surrender aboard the U.S. battleship Missouri in Tokyo Bay. This marked the end of World War II and also signified the great victory of the Chinese people's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression.”
High-level alignment in historical narrative: China and Russia jointly safeguarding the post-war order
September 3 is not only China’s Memorial Day for the Victory in the War of Resistance against Japan, but it is also officially recognized in Russia as “Victory over Japanese Militarism Day and the End of WWII.” The coordinated statements from both China and Russia at this pivotal moment reflect a high degree of consensus between the two nations on the historical outcome of WWII and the post-war international order. By specifically emphasizing “the great victory of the Chinese people’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression” and adding the quotation marks “”, RIA Novosti provides an official endorsement of China’s historically recognized status as the main Eastern front in the global anti-fascist war, conveying a firm message to the international community that China and Russia are united in defending the achievements of WWII and opposing historical nihilism.
The post precisely highlights the fact that “on September 2, 1945, the instrument of unconditional surrender was signed aboard the USS Missouri,” a statement with strong real-world relevance. In recent years, right-wing forces in Japan have repeatedly attempted to obscure their wartime aggression, replacing the term “surrender” with “end of war” (shūsen), while continuously pushing the boundaries of their pacifist constitution and significantly increasing defense spending. Russia’s timely reiteration of the legal fact that Japan signed the “instrument of unconditional surrender” serves as a clear legal reminder to Japan—Japan’s status as a defeated nation in WWII is irrevocable, and its current moves toward rearmament constitute a direct challenge to the post-war international order.
Notably, just one day before Russia’s post (on September 2), the U.S. Embassy in Japan also released a historical photograph of Japan signing the unconditional surrender document, triggering strong backlash from Japanese right-wingers. Subsequently, the embassies of China, Russia, and the United States all issued statements within two days emphasizing “victory over Japan.” Although each country has distinct strategic objectives, this rare synchronicity has objectively formed a multi-directional pressure mechanism against Japan’s historical revisionism, placing Tokyo in a severe diplomatic dilemma regarding historical recognition.
Russia’s RIA Novosti post may appear to be a celebration of the 81st anniversary of China’s victory in the War of Resistance against Japan, but in substance, it constitutes a precise strategic statement. It honors China’s historical contributions while simultaneously serving as a crucial component of Sino-Russian coordination in countering right-wing forces in Japan within the Northeast Asian geopolitical landscape, and upholding the post-war international order. In today’s era of accelerating global transformation, remembering this history is essential to preventing the resurgence of militarism and safeguarding the hard-won peace.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1875355962397706/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.