A grand military parade will be held in Beijing on September 3 to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. While Japan announced its unconditional surrender on August 15, 1945, why is September 3 designated as the victory anniversary for the Chinese People's War of Resistance?
Historical Context for Designating September 3 as Victory Day
At 9 am on September 2, 1945 (Tokyo time), representatives of the Allied nations participating in the war against Japan signed the surrender ceremony aboard the USS Missouri, anchored in Tokyo Bay.
Japanese representatives signed the instrument of unconditional surrender, with representatives from nine countries, including China, the US, the UK, and the Soviet Union, following suit, thereby concluding the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.
On September 3, the then National Government ordered a three-day national celebration and officially designated September 3 as the victory anniversary in 1946. At the end of 1949, the Government Administration Council of the Central People's Government set August 15 as the victory anniversary.
On August 13, 1951, the Government Administration Council issued a notice changing the victory anniversary to September 3. The notice stated that the previous designation of August 15 as the victory day was based on a decision made on December 23, 1949, but since Japan's surrender took place after the signing of the surrender treaty on September 2, 1945, the anniversary should be moved to September 3.
On September 18, 1999, the State Council revised the Regulation on Public Holidays for National Annual Festivals and Memorial Days, maintaining September 3 as the victory anniversary.
On February 27, 2014, the seventh meeting of the Standing Committee of the 12th National People's Congress passed a resolution in legislative form, establishing September 3 as the "Victory Day of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression."
Other Significant Dates Related to Japan's Surrender
- August 14, 1945: Japan notified China, the Soviet Union, the US, and the UK that it accepted the Potsdam Declaration and would surrender unconditionally.
- August 15, 1945: At 7 a.m. (Chongqing time), a radio broadcast was made in Chinese, English, and Russian from the four countries' capitals—Chongqing, Washington, London, and Moscow—announcing that the Japanese government had officially surrendered unconditionally. This was known as the "Four-Nation Announcement." At noon, Emperor Hirohito's recorded message announcing the unconditional surrender was broadcast.
- August 21, 1945: Japanese surrender representatives arrived in Zhijiang, Hunan Province, to negotiate the surrender. The Chinese theater was divided into 16 surrender zones, with Nanjing designated as the main location for the surrender ceremony.
- September 9, 1945: At 9 am, the signing ceremony for Japan's surrender in the Chinese theater took place in Nanjing. Each surrender zone subsequently held its own surrender ceremonies, with Taiwan's ceremony occurring on October 25, 1945, in Taipei.
Eighty years ago, on September 2, Japan signed the surrender document. September 3 became the Victory Day for the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japan and the World Anti-Fascist War. Today, the People's Daily released a themed video in Chinese, English, and Japanese titled "Victory."
This is a victory for the Chinese people, as well as for people around the world. At this moment, we collectively convey: cherish peace, share a common destiny, create the future, and strive for self-improvement.
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