Every July 7, we pause to remember the Lugou Bridge Incident—a sudden outbreak of conflict that sparked the Chinese mainland’s whole-nation resistance war 88 years ago.
On that summer night in 1937, a missing soldier became the pretext for Japanese troops to launch an unprovoked attack at the Lugou Bridge outside Wanping Town, triggering a full-scale invasion of the Chinese mainland.
In the face of this brutal aggression, people across regions, classes and ideologies rallied together. Over the next 14 bitter years, ordinary citizens and soldiers endured unimaginable hardship yet remained united in their struggle for survival, freedom and dignity.
This crucible of conflict deepened ideas of national unity and sovereignty. The Communist Party of China’s unwavering stance against foreign aggression and its call for unity and people’s welfare won broad trust and laid the groundwork for the future social and political development of the Chinese mainland.
Today, as digitally connected global citizens, we carry forward the lessons of July 7. We honor those who sacrificed, while reminding ourselves that peace must never be taken for granted. The shadow of militarism and historical revisionism can emerge anywhere—and it is our shared duty to defend the truth with facts, conscience and clarity.
Commemoration is more than remembrance—it’s a call for vigilance. Through mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and cooperation, we ensure that the horrors of the past remain firmly in the past, and that unity prevails in an ever-changing world.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
