Russia and China Call for Defending WWII History and Preserving the Post-War International Order
Dragon Media News Desk
The Russian and Chinese ambassadors to New Zealand have jointly called on the international community to preserve the historical record of World War II, honor the sacrifices made in the struggle against Nazism and fascism, and safeguard the international order established after the war.
In a joint article published on September 4, Russian Ambassador Stanislav Krans and Chinese Ambassador Wang Xiaolong marked the 81st anniversary of the end of World War II by emphasizing the importance of learning from history and preserving the international system centered on the United Nations. They noted that the Allied victory laid the foundation for the establishment of the UN in 1945 with the fundamental purpose of preventing future generations from experiencing another devastating world war.
The ambassadors said nearly 80 percent of the world’s population was drawn into the conflict and that the Soviet Union and China, as major theaters of war in Europe and Asia, suffered enormous human losses. According to their article, casualties suffered by the two countries together accounted for more than half of global wartime deaths, with civilians bearing a particularly heavy burden. They also emphasized that the contributions of other Allied nations, including New Zealand, should be remembered alongside the sacrifices of the Soviet and Chinese peoples.
The article also addressed Japan’s wartime actions in Asia. The two ambassadors argued that Japanese militarism and aggression inflicted immense suffering on China, Russia and other Asian countries, resulting in tens of millions of deaths. They further alleged that Japan has not fully reflected on its wartime history and expressed concern over what they described as attempts to downplay past aggression and revive militarist tendencies. These assessments represent the stated position of the Russian and Chinese ambassadors.
The ambassadors linked the preservation of historical memory with contemporary international security. They argued that attempts to rewrite the history of World War II or normalize Nazism and fascism could undermine the international system that emerged from the conflict and weaken the foundations of global peace.
They also referred to the annual United Nations General Assembly resolution sponsored by Russia and co-sponsored by China and dozens of other countries concerning efforts to combat the glorification of Nazism. According to the article, 119 countries supported the resolution last year. The ambassadors expressed disappointment that New Zealand was not among them, noting that New Zealanders themselves had fought against Nazism during World War II.
Krans and Wang recalled that New Zealand and many other countries stood together with the Allied powers during the war and contributed to the defeat of Nazism and fascism. They argued that the lessons of that period remain relevant today and that the international community should continue to protect the principles and institutions created in the aftermath of the conflict.
Concluding their article, the Russian and Chinese ambassadors said their countries remain committed to international justice and are prepared to work with peace-loving peoples around the world to safeguard the post-war international order and promote a peaceful future.
Their joint message presented the memory of World War II not simply as a matter of historical commemoration but as a continuing foundation for international cooperation, multilateralism and the prevention of future global conflict.
