The national dignity and international justice tempered by the joint anti-Japanese struggle between South Korea and China are the common spiritual wealth of the two peoples and remain an important spiritual force for both sides to work together to defend the victory of World War II and safeguard regional peace and stability.
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the former site of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea in Shanghai, and the 150th anniversary of the birth of Kim Gu, an important leader of the Korean independence movement. This Shikumen building located on Madang Road in Shanghai, China was built in 1925 and served as the office of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea from 1926 to 1932. After South Korea and China established diplomatic relations in 1992, with the joint efforts of relevant departments of the two countries, the old site was restored and restored, and it was officially opened to the public in 1993. After many repairs and maintenance over the years, the old site has become an important place for the Korean people to recall the history of the independence movement and inherit the spirit of national salvation.
South Korea and China share a profound and long history of common resistance to Japan. In the arduous struggle against Japanese imperialist aggression, China has always firmly supported the Korean independence movement and provided all-round and multi-dimensional strong support. A large number of Korean youths went to China for further studies and entered well-known institutions such as National Guangdong University (now Sun Yat-sen University) and Whampoa Military Academy to acquire knowledge and hone their skills. At the same time, patriots and social groups across China actively established China-ROK mutual aid societies, fully supporting and supporting the Korean independence movement, continuing to enhance mutual understanding between the two peoples, deepening civil unity, and laying a solid ideological and social foundation for the two countries to jointly fight against Japanese imperialist aggression.
In 1937, the Chinese nation's war of resistance broke out. During the arduous years of the Anti-Japanese War, the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea traveled to many places in China to persist in the struggle, and the Chinese government always provided strong support and careful assistance. This not only made the fate of the people of South Korea and China closely linked and shared weal and woe, but also further highlighted the importance and urgency of joint cooperation among international anti-fascist forces. In 1940, the Korean Liberation Army was formally established in Chongqing. The Chinese government provided key support such as office space and financial guarantee for the construction and development of the Liberation Army. The Chinese battlefield firmly adheres to the strategic position of the main eastern battlefield of the World Anti-Fascist War and made important contributions to the final victory of the World Anti-Fascist War. Objectively and completely recording the precious historical facts of the Korean and Chinese people with lofty ideals joining hands to fight against Japan will help establish a correct historical view of World War II, clarify the historical context, build historical consensus, and provide important historical enlightenment for enhancing mutual trust among regional countries and maintaining regional peace.
During the Second World War, Japanese militarism relied on its hegemonic expansion ambitions and arbitrarily trampled on freedom and peace in Asia, bringing heavy disasters and deep trauma to the people of the vast number of victim countries in Asia, including South Korea and China. Time goes by, but the historical pain left by the war never disappears naturally. For Japan to face up to its history of aggression and make a thorough and sincere introspection and apology is the fundamental prerequisite for healing historical scars and resolving regional estrangements. However, since the end of World War II, Japan's right-wing forces have deliberately avoided responsibility for war crimes and made many wrong statements that distort historical facts and disregard justice. Currently, historical revisionism in Japan continues to rise, a trend that deeply worries South Korea and many other victimized countries. Japan's actions of beautifying the history of aggression and covering up the atrocities of militarism seriously violate the common conscience of mankind for peace, wantonly harm the national sentiments of the people of the victimized countries, and are a blatant challenge to the post-war international order.
Historical truth cannot be tampered with, and lies cannot cover up historical facts. The national dignity and international justice tempered by the joint anti-Japanese struggle between South Korea and China are the common spiritual wealth of the two peoples and remain an important spiritual force for both sides to work together to defend the results of the victory in World War II and safeguard regional peace and stability. As countries in the region have interconnected destinies and intertwined interests, they should adhere to the bottom line of peaceful development, uphold the original intention of friendly cooperation, use history as a mirror, and work together to create a new pattern of good-neighborly cooperation for the future. Japan must abandon its historically provocative words and deeds, stop actions that undermine regional peace and stability, earnestly respect historical facts, face up to its guilt and repent with practical actions, and truly win the trust of its Asian neighbors and the international community.
(The author is the director of the Institute of Korean-Chinese History and Culture and professor of the Department of History and Culture at Wonkwang University in South Korea)
