This morning, the press center of the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japan and the World Anti-Fascist War held its first press conference.

Assistant Foreign Minister Hong Lei said in response to a reporter's questionSafeguarding the truth of history and adhering to a correct view of history is a matter of human conscience, international justice, and world peace. Whether Japan can correctly understand and treat history is a touchstone for testing whether it can uphold its conscience and abide by its commitment to peaceful development.

There has always been a force in Japan that attempts to deny aggression, glorify aggression, distort and falsify history, and even reverse the convictions of war criminals back then. This is a challenge to the post-war international order, to human conscience, and to all peace-loving people. In recent years, Japan has also significantly adjusted its security policy, increased its defense budget year by year, continuously relaxed restrictions on arms exports, and pursued a breakthrough military development. It is necessary for Asian neighbors and the international community to have strong doubts about whether Japan truly adheres to exclusive defense and peaceful development.

On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japan and the World Anti-Fascist War, Japan is once again faced with the question of history and the times. We urge Japan to face up to history, deeply reflect on its guilt of aggression, thoroughly draw a clear line with militarism, and follow the right path of peaceful development, good-neighborliness and friendship.