Int'l experts highlight China's crucial role in WWII

Scholars from multiple countries have stressed China's immense sacrifices and contributions to the victory over fascism in World War II (WWII) which deserve greater international recognition, and called for broader awareness of this chapter of history.

During the World Anti-Fascist War, China tied down and fought the bulk of Japan's forces, eliminating more than 1.5 million enemy troops and preventing Japan from allocating more troops to the Pacific theater.

China suffered a total of 35 million military and civilian casualties, accounting for a third of the total casualties of all the countries in World War II.

Christian Lubcke, a German military historian, pointed out that the common timeline of the WWII can be incomplete for people in Europe.

"In Europe, we say that World War II began on Sept 1, 1939, but it is only part of the truth. But at that time, China had already been fighting against Japanese aggression for years and had paid a heavy price. But in European historical writing, this fact is often lightly touched. And that situation has to change," said Lubcke.

"China played in many ways a very central role in World War II. The reason I want to stress that is that in the wider Western world, we tend to think of the big three, United States of America, the British Empire, the Soviet Union, all of which were absolutely key actors in the ultimate ally victory over the Nazis and Japan, but China also played a very, very central role in terms of the overall strategy," said Rana Mitter, a historian and the ST Lee Chair in U.S.-Asia Relations at the Harvard Kennedy School.

William Castillo, deputy minister of Anti-Blockade Policies of Venezuelan Ministry of Economy, Finance, and Foreign Trade, stressed the enduring historical significance of China's struggle.

"As the Chinese people themselves have said, this was a long and bitter fight, one that culminated in a remarkable victory. It is essential for people around the world to understand the scale of the sacrifices and efforts made by the Chinese people, and what that victory means to the history of all mankind," said Castillo.

Int'l experts highlight China's crucial role in WWII

Int'l experts highlight China's crucial role in WWII

Int'l experts highlight China's crucial role in WWII

Int'l experts highlight China's crucial role in WWII

Chicago policymakers have introduced measures to increase housing supply, in a move that local activists and construction industry stakeholders have hailed as key to easing affordability pressures on residents.

According to the city's 2025 annual report on homelessness, Chicago is facing its largest gap in affordable and available housing in a decade, with the annual Point-in-Time (PIT) Count estimating that 7,452 people were experiencing homelessness, either in shelters or unsheltered locations, on January 23, 2025.

Steven Vance, a social worker in Chicago, said policies that previously curbed the city's housing supply have pushed up rent costs amid demographic changes.

"Households are declining in size, and that means we need more homes, and I thought it was strange that we would artificially restrict how many homes could get built in Chicago. Right now in Chicago, we have one of the highest rent growths, compared year to year in the country, and so now is a pivotal time to allow more housing," he said.

To address the challenge, Chicago has introduced zoning and land-use reforms, including the Additional Dwelling Units (ADU) Ordinance, aimed at increasing residential density and expanding housing supply.

The ordinance effectively expands housing access across the city by allowing ADUs in attics, basements, and accessory buildings, easing the rent burden and creating more budget-friendly housing options.

"In December 2020, City Council adopted an ordinance that would legalize ADUs in five pilot areas. (With ADU,) rents will maybe not always come down, but they will not climb as quickly as they are now if we have more housing options," he said.

The construction sector in the city has welcomed the policy change, with builders jumping on the opportunity to create new structures. For many in the industry, boosting housing supply is not just about doing business, but about addressing the issue of affordability as Chicago residents themselves.

"The housing market in Chicago has been impacted by the ADU program, to me, in a really big way. It's enabled a lot more rental projects to be constructed. I want there to be more housing in Chicago. I think there is a need for that, and I think there's also a need for responsible development that maintains the character of the neighborhood. Affordable housing to me is a really important issue, and to me, the biggest denominator in affordable housing is the lack of supply. The best route to affordable housing is to have an influx of housing," said Nick Serra, a construction professional.

Chicago expands housing supply to ease affordability pressure