The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) and the People's Armed Police Force held various events on Thursday to mark the 94th anniversary of the September 18 Incident, remembering history and honoring the fallen heroes during the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression.
It was on September 18, 1931, that Japanese troops blew up a section of the railway near north China's Shenyang City under their control and accused Chinese troops of sabotage as a pretext for subsequent aggression against China.
On Thursday, air raid sirens sounded in a brigade of the 82nd Group Army of the PLA Ground Force. Military officers and soldiers stood solemnly in silence to pay tribute to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives.
"We must carry forward the legacy of the martyrs, remember the history of the war, promote the spirit of resistance, actively engage in training and preparation, and refine our skills, demonstrating the loyalty and responsibility of revolutionary soldiers in the new era through actions," said soldier Gao Hang.
A brigade of the 73rd Group Army of the PLA Ground Force conducted a live-fire drill, utilizing combat-oriented training to honor the martyrs and fulfill their mission through action.
"Today is the 94th anniversary of the September 18 Incident, a day that reminds us that backwardness leaves us vulnerable, and a strong military ensures national security. We treat the training ground as the battlefield to hone our combat capabilities in the most realistic environment. Every officer and soldier must understand that safeguarding the airspace of our country is the best way to honor the martyrs," said soldier Xiao Guohuan.
At martyr cemeteries, officers and soldiers paid silent tribute, offering flowers, cleaning tombstones, and signing to express their resolve.
They solemnly swore oaths before the monuments, reaffirming their ideals of serving the country and striving with dedication.
The China Coast Guard (CCG) also conducted commemorative events on the day across multiple sea areas.
CCG vessels sounded their sirens simultaneously as they patrolled the early morning mission areas, including the Yellow Sea, Bohai Sea, East China Sea, and South China Sea. All officers stood in formation on deck for a silent tribute to the heroes and compatriots who died during the war.
"The best way to commemorate the September 18 Incident is to shoulder the mission of our times. By standing firm on the front lines of maritime rights protection and law enforcement, we use concrete actions to reassure the martyrs that, as we guard the vast seas of China, the people can rest assured," said a CCG officer.
The incident in 1931, in which Japanese troops began the bloody invasion of China, foreshadowed World War II and made the country the first to resist fascism. For years, China has kept marking the September 18 Incident.
During the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, which lasted until 1945, China suffered a total of 35 million military and non-military casualties, accounting for a third of the total casualties of all the countries in World War II.
PLA holds events to commemorates start of war against Japanese aggression
