China is stepping up efforts to protect and manage more than 100 overseas memorials honoring its War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression during the World War II, reflecting a growing commitment to global heritage stewardship, according to a senior official.
The State Council on August 25 released the fourth batch of nationally recognized memorial facilities and sites commemorating the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.
At a press conference in Beijing marking China’s V-Day commemorations, Li Jingxian, head of the Department of Commendation and Commemoration at the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, outlined the overseas distribution and management of these memorials.
"China has over 100 memorial facilities and relics of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression overseas, mainly including more than 30 in countries such as Myanmar, India, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, and Russia, as well as over 80 in China's Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions. These memorial facilities and relics are generally managed by local Chinese communities, social organizations, Chinese-funded enterprises, or relevant authorities of the host countries, with most being well-managed. Among the first three batches of memorial facilities and relics of the resistance war at the national level released by the State Council, there are three in Hong Kong and Macao and three located abroad. There are a total of four memorial facilities located abroad in the fourth batch of the list released this time," said Li.
"In recent years, China has continuously intensified its efforts to protect and manage overseas memorial facilities of the resistance war, completing or renovating such facilities in Myanmar and Papua New Guinea in 2023 and 2024. This year, the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Cultural Heritage Administration and other authorities, has further intensified the efforts to promote the renovation and construction of the memorial facility for the martyrs of the training brigade of the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army in Russia, which has now been completed and opened to the public. Meanwhile, authorities have visited the memorial facilities of the resistance war in both Hong Kong and Macao SARs and organized commemorative activities at the memorial sites in Malaysia and Papua New Guinea," said Li.
"In addition, our embassies and consulates in relevant countries are comprehensively assessing the status of overseas commemorative facilities as required, working on repair and protection plans, organizing commemorative activities, and ensuring that all commemorative facilities, both home and abroad, receive proper protection and utilization," said Li.
China enhances global protection of WWII memorials honoring resistance against Japanese aggression
