Major research outcomes displayed at the conference Photo: Zhu Gaolei/CSSN

On Aug. 18, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) held a thematic press conference in Beijing to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, at which it introduced 11 major research outcomes.

In his address, Zhao Rui, vice president of CASS, stated that the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression marked a historic turning point for the Chinese nation, lifting it from one of the most serious crises of modern times toward national rejuvenation. It was also an integral part of the World Anti-Fascist War, representing a triumph of justice over evil, light over darkness, and progress over reaction. Its profound historical significance, far-reaching global impact, and enduring spiritual value deserves deep remembrance and continuous research.

The 11 major research outcomes include seven monographs, three theoretical articles and research papers, and one data platform.

The article “The Victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression Was a Great Triumph of Patriotism as the Core of the National Spirit,” published under CASS, points out that from first raising the call for resistance following the September 18 Incident to establishing the national united front, the CPC transformed the spiritual force of patriotism into a mighty historical current that guided the nation’s resistance efforts, fulfilling its role as the backbone of the nationwide war effort.

The thesis “A Macro Reflection on the History of WWII,” authored by CASS Member Zhang Haipeng, reviews the history of WWII, identifying two sources of aggression, two points of outbreak, two major battlefields, and two victory commemorations within. By challenging the Eurocentric view that traditionally regarded Europe as WWII’s sole point of outbreak and incorporating the Asian and Chinese theaters into global history, the work contributes to establishing a more comprehensive and scientific understanding of WWII history and encourages international academia to reassess China’s war of resistance against Japanese aggression and its global implications.

“The CPC Was the Mainstay of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression,” written by Xia Chuntao, director of the Institute of Modern History (IMH) at CASS, notes that during the whole-nation war of resistance, the Kuomintang repeatedly emphasized its leadership role. In reality, however, the CPC accomplished many critical and difficult tasks that the Kuomintang should have undertaken but failed to, playing an irreplaceable and decisive role in securing ultimate victory in this arduous war.

A History of the Chinese War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (8 Volumes), compiled by Bu Ping and Wang Jianlang, research fellows from the IMH, seeks to provide a comprehensive account of political, military, economic, social, and diplomatic changes in wartime China. The monograph emphasizes that the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression marked a pivotal turning point for China’s national rejuvenation, exerting profound impacts on both domestic governance and foreign relations. While resisting foreign invasion, the war simultaneously accelerated internal social reforms and nurtured new modernization elements.

A New History of World War II, compiled by the Institute of World History at CASS, upholds a correct historical perspective on WWII, systematically examining how peace-loving forces worldwide united under the anti-fascist banner to ultimately secure victory and reshape the global order. The book gives particular emphasis to the decisive contribution of the main Eastern theater, fully showcasing the CPC’s vital role as the backbone of the war of resistance against Japanese aggression nationwide, as well as the formidable power of the people’s war.

The Digital Archive of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and Modern China-Japan Relations, developed by the IMH, was officially launched on Sept. 2, 2018. This publicly accessible platform encompasses over 83 million pages of high-definition archival images and approximately 180 million Chinese characters of catalogued texts. As the world’s largest database on the history of the war, the platform provides comprehensive documentary support for related research.

The Military Archives of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (100 Volumes) was produced with the support of the Digital Archive of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and Modern China-Japan Relations under the chief editorship of Jin Yilin, an IMH research fellow, and Luo Min, a professor of history from Peking University. The 100-volume collection compiles 341 historical documents spanning nearly 50,000 pages. The selected materials primarily consist of original pre-1945 publications, with a focus on rare official documents and internal files, offering a thorough picture of combat operations on both the main and rear battlefronts during the war.

Research on the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression in Contemporary China (1949-2021), with Du Jidong, a research fellow from the National Academy of Chinese Modernization at CASS, and IMH Research Fellow Wu Minchao as chief editors, systematically reviews research on the war of resistance conducted in the Chinese mainland since the founding of the PRC, with particular emphasis on reform and opening up. The book comprises 15 thematic sections, covering topics such as the main and rear battlefields, base area construction, the Great Rear Area and occupied zones, wartime Chinese-foreign relations, overseas Chinese and the war of resistance, and postwar legacies.

The National South-West Associated University and Modern China (1937-1946) authored by Wen Liming, an IMH research fellow, draws upon extensive archival documents, local newspapers, and oral history materials to systematically document the complete historical process of the establishment, development, and reorganization of the National South-West Associated University from 1937 to 1946. The book vividly portrays the academic research, study, and daily life of the university’s faculty and students under extraordinarily difficult circumstances. It chronicles their outstanding contributions in political, intellectual, cultural, and educational fields, as well as their firm commitment to saving the nation by resisting Japanese aggression. Ultimately, they unified career aspirations and personal ideals with the destiny of the nation and the future of the Chinese people.

Research on the Establishment and Development of the Shandong Base Area Against Japanese Aggression, written by IMH Research Fellow Wang Shihua, draws on Chinese and Japanese archival materials from domestic and international sources, investigative reports, personal diaries, chronologies, memoirs, and local revolutionary historical documents from Shandong Province. From underexplored perspectives, the monograph elaborates on the arduous process of the establishment and development as well as remarkable achievements of the Shandong base area, which held great strategic importance. The study presents an objective account of how the CPC mobilized local populations, organized armed resistance forces, waged persistent resistance, and consolidated and expanded the base area.

Rediscovering the Tokyo Trials: The International Rule of Law for Peace and Justice by Xu Chi, an assistant research fellow from the Institute of Law at CASS, conducts an in-depth discussion of the Tokyo Trials from dual perspectives of legal studies and historiography. It reveals the motivations behind their establishment, analyzes the core legal issues at stake, evaluates their contributions and value in the developmental history of international rule of law, and explores China’s historical role in both the trials themselves and the broader evolution of international rule of law.