On the 88th anniversary of China's National Memorial Day for Nanjing Massacre Victims, Chinese diplomats in Manila paid emotional tribute yesterday to wartime heroes who resisted Japanese aggression. Ambassador Jing Quan led embassy staff through the hallowed grounds of Manila Chinese Cemetery, where floral wreaths now adorn memorials to fallen diplomats and guerrilla fighters.
🔍 Why it matters: The ceremony honored Yang Guangsheng – a consul general tortured and killed in 1942 for refusing to collaborate with Japanese occupiers – along with 70+ resistance fighters from the Philippine-Chinese anti-Japanese guerrilla forces. Their story, preserved through memorial halls and 90-year-old veteran Lv Shuiya's attendance, highlights overseas Chinese contributions to WWII's Pacific theater.
💬 Ambassador's pledge: "We inherit their unyielding spirit," Jing declared, urging diplomats to champion national reunification and peace. The memorial day (established 2014) coincides with Nanjing Massacre commemorations, reinforcing China's stance against historical revisionism.
📜 Hidden history revealed: Few know that the 1942-1945 guerrilla unit conducted 260+ operations against Japanese forces – a legacy now etched in stone at the cemetery's monuments. As geopolitical tensions rise, this ceremony reminds us: #HistoryMatters.
