World War II: Chinese commemorate victory in Yaounde

The Chinese community in Cameroon during a ceremony at their Embassy in the Bastos neighbourhood of Yaounde, joined their fellow compatriots the world over to commemorate the 70th anniversary of China’s victory over Japan in their bloody-14-year war of resistance and ultimately the Second World War.

Chinese Ambassador to Cameroon, Wei Wenhua chaired the commemorative ceremony in Yaounde in the presence of many Cameroon cabinet ministers, among whom was the government representative, External Relations Minister, Pierre Moukoko Mbonjo, as well as some representatives of the diplomatic corps and international organizations.

Ambassador Wei Wenhua stated that the event was commemorated with the aim to remember history, pay homage to martyrs, cherish peace and build the future.

He said commemorative activities were to awaken the aspiration and attachment to world peace, avoid the reoccurrence of the historic tragedy, preserve the victory of the Second World War and create a better future for humanity.

President Xi Jinping of China, the ambassador disclosed, during the 70th anniversary commemorative ceremony, announced that he would cut the Chinese troop levels by 300,000 soldiers, representing 13 per cent of the current 2.3 million soldiers.

“Prejudice and discrimination, hatred and war can only cause disaster and pain. China will always uphold the path to peaceful development,” BBC quoted President Xi Jinping as having said as he presided at the military parade in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square.

In the Chinese War of Resistance and the Second World War, Wei Wenhua disclosed, over 35 million Chinese soldiers and civilians either died or were injured.

He further said that the country had direct loss of over 100 million U.S. Dollars following the exchange rate by then. The war on the other hand significantly raised China’s position in the international scene. This is because after the Allied forces emerged victorious, China, United States of America, Great Britain and USSR, together initiated the San Francisco Conference to put in place the United Nations Organisation.

After the conference, China gained the position of one of the five Permanent members of the UN Security Council.