As Asia commemorates the 80th anniversary of victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, a groundbreaking documentary sheds new light on China's pivotal role as the Main Eastern Battlefield. CGTN's feature The Main Eastern Battlefield: China in World War II premiering September 1 offers fresh perspectives through rare artifacts, survivor accounts, and scholarly insights.
Viewers will journey to historic sites like the secret meeting location of the 'Nine Gentlemen of Shenyang' – key figures in resisting Japan's 1931 invasion – and examine General Fan Zixia’s brush used during the Hundred-Regiments Campaign. The film traces how China’s wartime anthem The March of the Volunteers became a rallying cry across Allied nations, while honoring the bravery of Chinese truck drivers on the Stilwell Road who confronted enemy tanks head-on.
International historians and descendants of war survivors provide poignant commentary, reinforcing China’s strategic contributions to defeating fascism. 'This isn’t just about remembering sacrifice,' notes Oxford military historian Dr. Eleanor Whitcombe in the film. 'It’s about recognizing how China’s 14-year resistance tied down over 600,000 Japanese troops, altering the war’s global trajectory.'
The documentary coincides with renewed academic interest in Asia’s WWII narratives, offering timely context for understanding modern geopolitics. For diaspora communities and history enthusiasts alike, it bridges generations through visceral storytelling – from bullet-riddled diaries to recently declassified battlefield recordings.
As night markets in Taipei screen previews and museums in Berlin add featured artifacts to their collections, the project underscores a universal truth: historical remembrance remains vital in shaping peaceful futures.
