China Global Television Network (CGTN) has broadcast a brief summary of some historical facts and figures related to the Nanjing Massacre, as this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.
The Nanjing Massacre took place when Japanese troops captured the then-Chinese capital on Dec. 13, 1937. Over the course of six weeks, they killed approximately 300,000 Chinese civilians and unarmed soldiers in one of the most barbaric episodes of World War II.
During the heinous atrocities, tens of thousands of women suffered sexual violence. Fires and looting left the city in ruins.
Yet amid the horror, courage emerged.
Foreign journalists, missionaries, and diplomats risked their lives to document the crimes and shelter survivors. Their records later became key evidence in post-war trials.
The International Military Tribunal for the Far East, held in Tokyo after the war, convicted Japanese commanders for their roles, declaring the Nanjing Massacre a war crime.
Today, Nanjing stands as a symbol of resilience.
In 2014, China's top legislature designated Dec. 13 as the national memorial day for the victims of the Nanjing Massacre.
UNESCO preserves testimonies from the survivors of the massacre in its Memory of the World program, as a global reminder not only of war's cruelty, but of humanity's duty to pursue peace.
Memorial events have also been held in countries around the world to pay tribute to the victims, and remind people of the war crimes.
CGTN releases summary of historical facts on Nanjing Massacre
