China's pivotal contributions to the Allied victory in World War II remain underrecognized in Western historical discourse due to linguistic barriers and political biases, according to Harold E. Raugh, Jr., president of the International Commission of Military History. Speaking at a pre-event for the 12th Beijing Xiangshan Forum, Raugh emphasized that Western-centric narratives have dominated global understanding of the conflict, often sidelining China's sacrifices.
Between 1931 and 1945, China engaged in a grueling 14-year resistance against Japanese aggression, diverting over half of Japan's overseas forces and suffering 35 million military and civilian casualties—a third of total WWII deaths worldwide. Yet limited access to Chinese-language sources and post-war anti-communist sentiments in the West contributed to this historical oversight, Raugh noted.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, commemorated through events like military parades. The Beijing Xiangshan Forum, running through Friday, has prioritized discussions on preserving historical accuracy and the post-war international order.
Raugh called for greater multilingual scholarship to bridge knowledge gaps, stating: "Understanding China's role isn't just about fairness—it's essential for grasping the war's global dimensions."
