(Essential question) Why is it necessary to mention the contribution of overseas Chinese and Chinese on European Victory Day in World War II?

  China News Service, Beijing, May 8th. Title: Why is it necessary to mention the contribution of overseas Chinese and Chinese on European Victory Day in World War II?

  China News Agency reporter Ma Xiuxiu


Zhang Guoxiong.

Photo courtesy of the interviewee

Xia Yuqing.

Photo courtesy of the interviewee

  May 8th is the anniversary of the victory in the Second World War in Europe.

Looking back at that period of history full of gunpowder smoke, overseas Chinese made various contributions to the victory of war in Europe, but they were rarely known at one time.

On this anniversary, it is of extremely important practical significance to revisit the contributions of overseas Chinese and Chinese people.

  Recently, a reporter from China News Agency interviewed Zhang Guoxiong, vice president of the Chinese Society of Overseas Chinese History and professor of Wuyi University, and Xia Yuqing, deputy director of the Institute of Overseas Chinese and Overseas Chinese at Yunnan Normal University, to sort out and think about the contributions of the Chinese in Europe during the Second World War.

Contribution: Participate in the entire World Anti-Fascist War

  From the initial outbreak of World War II (World Anti-Fascist War) to the global resistance stage, the East Asian battlefield, the Southeast Asian battlefield, the Western European battlefield, the Soviet-German battlefield, the North African battlefield, the Atlantic battlefield, the Pacific battlefield, and the Oceania battlefield were formed. participate.

Zhang Guoxiong said that the overseas Chinese were the only international non-governmental force that participated in the whole process of the World Anti-Fascist War and had the widest range of activities.

Data map: On September 3, 2020, the theme exhibition "Beacon Beacon-Lin Kesheng and the Chinese Red Cross Ambulance Corps during the Anti-Japanese War" was launched at the Overseas Chinese Museum.

This exhibition commemorates the heroic deeds of the medical elite group represented by Singaporean Chinese scientist Lin Kesheng, who rescued the wounded and bravely went to the national disaster, and the patriotic feelings of overseas Chinese and Chinese who are in the same boat with the motherland and share the same hatred and hatred.

Photo by Huang Yongsi

  Combined with the monograph "Monument: Overseas Chinese and the World Anti-Fascist War", Zhang Guoxiong sorted out the situation of overseas Chinese and Chinese participating in the war in Europe.

  As the coverage of the war expanded in Europe, some local overseas Chinese joined the underground resistance movement of the people living in the country against fascism.

In the battlefields of Western Europe and the Soviet-German battlefield, the US, Canadian, and Soviet troops were full of overseas Chinese from the local area.

  In addition to participating in the resistance movement, many overseas Chinese seamen in Europe went to the United Kingdom to participate in the war, fighting on the maritime transport line of the "Death Journey" in the Atlantic.

According to incomplete statistics, during the Second World War, more than 7,000 overseas Chinese seafarers were unfortunately sacrificed when they undertook the maritime transport mission of the International Anti-Fascist Alliance.

In the Soviet-German battlefield, as the Eastern Soviet Union’s strategic armed forces were deployed on the western front, overseas Chinese in the Soviet Far East joined the conquest and participated in the liberation of Romania, Hungary, Poland, and the Czech Republic.

  On December 7, 1941, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor and the United States declared war on Japan.

To make up for the shortage of troops, the US government enlisted overseas Chinese to join the war.

According to incomplete statistics, during the Anti-Fascist War, nearly 20,000 overseas Chinese joined the U.S. Army, making it one of the ethnic groups with the highest participation rate.

After Canada declared war on Japan, more than 500 overseas Chinese enlisted in the army.

  In June 1944, the second European battlefield was opened.

In the records of the US military's three services, the overseas Chinese and Chinese who have been sent to the front lines in Europe have numerous achievements. Many American heroes such as Chen Jingyao, Huang Junyu, Guan Wenzhong, and Jiang Huajiu have emerged on the European battlefield.

The picture shows "The Light of Chinese: Huang Junyu, a World War II veteran who landed in Normandy."

Photo by Yang Yunyi

  The Royal Air Force recruited radio operators and other aircrews from Mauritius. Some qualified overseas Chinese youth volunteered to sign up, and some of them gave their young lives in battle...

  Xia Yuqing pointed out that from a geographical point of view, the overseas Chinese in Europe mainly assisted the Allied forces in combat, while the overseas Chinese in Southeast Asia mainly supported the European War of Resistance in economic and public opinion.

For example, in places such as British Singapore and Malaysia, while supporting the Chinese War of Resistance, the leaders of local overseas Chinese associations also actively responded to the appeal of the Governor of Singapore to establish the "Aid to Britain Association" and mobilize local overseas Chinese to donate money and materials to the UK.

Overseas Chinese in Singapore and Malaysia also sent representatives to participate in the "World Anti-aggression Conference" to mobilize anti-fascist behavior from the public opinion level.

  "From the prelude to the outbreak of World War II-the Spanish Civil War, until the victory of the Anti-Fascist War, overseas Chinese and Chinese people participated in the whole process." Zhang Guoxiong said that in the face of concerns about the future and destiny of mankind and world peace, they do not distinguish between regions and classes. Regardless of party affiliation, occupation, elder or child, or gender, they fought together with other ethnic groups, demonstrated unprecedented unity, and made diverse contributions.

History: From being underestimated to gradually gaining recognition

  For a long time after World War II, the contributions of overseas Chinese have been underestimated, and many retired Chinese soldiers have gradually been ignored by the local society.

  "In a society dominated by whites, overseas Chinese are a disadvantaged group, and their voices are also very weak." Zhang Guoxiong pointed out that this directly led to the fact that despite the large number of overseas Chinese and Chinese participating in the war, they made a lot of contributions and made great sacrifices. Not valued by the local society.

  For example, he said that the Chinese people from the United States who participated in the wars in Europe most were overseas Chinese.

Since the United States passed the "Chinese Exclusion Act" in 1882, overseas Chinese and Chinese people generally encountered social discrimination.

Although this bill was repealed in 1943, the social status and living conditions of the local overseas Chinese have not been improved in a short period of time, and their contributions will naturally not be recognized by the mainstream.

  In addition, Xia Yuqing believes that after the end of World War II, the world entered the Cold War pattern, forming an ideological confrontation between the two camps.

Under the discourse system dominated by the West, the contributions of overseas Chinese are also easy to be underestimated.

  Over the years, the contributions of overseas Chinese and Chinese people have gradually gained recognition under the impetus of various means by many people of insight.

  Take the United States as an example. In 1999, the first documentary film in the United States reflecting the experience of Chinese veterans in World War II, "We Serve Proudly: The Experience of Chinese Americans in World War II" was released, which vividly recorded the establishment of Chinese Americans in the anti-fascist war. Immortal deeds show his noble spirit of perseverance, fear of sacrifice, and love of freedom and peace.

Data map: On January 29, 2019 local time, the Gold Medal Award Ceremony of the Congress of Chinese Americans of World War II Veterans was held at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Image source: American Chinese Network

  Chinese in American politics, Chinese associations, and Chinese veterans have been pushing Congress to award honors to Chinese veterans for many years.

On December 12, 2018, local time, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the "Gold Medal of the National War II Chinese Veterans Congress Act" with an overwhelming advantage; on the 20th, the then U.S. President Trump signed the bill.

  According to Zhang Guoxiong, not only in the United States, but also in some European countries, the contributions of overseas Chinese in World War II have also been recognized one after another. Commendations and memorials were given through awarding medals, granting allowances, and erecting monuments.

  "Although the recognition is late, it is not absent." Zhang Guoxiong also admitted that the current research and reports on the contributions of overseas Chinese and Chinese in the European war in World War II are still insufficient in the academic and media circles, which makes this period of history not highly concerned.

"We should dig deep into this history and record it completely, so that more people can understand the spirit of the predecessors and pass it on."

Data map: On December 14, 2018, Mr. Lu Meiyin, a relative of the heroic female flight attendant Lu Meiyin of the Anti-Japanese Airways, a Chinese-American, Mr. Lu Zhaoning, donated a batch of precious anti-Japanese cultural and historical materials to the Nanjing Anti-Japanese Aviation Martyrs Memorial Hall free of charge, including the pilots of the China-Burma-India Theater Clothing, books written by American Flying Tigers, archives of aircraft P-26 and P40 during World War II.

Photo by China News Agency reporter Yang Bo

  Zhang Guoxiong said that when facing major global challenges, overseas Chinese and Chinese have demonstrated the courageous responsibility and powerful force that they have brought together the feelings of family and country and the care of the world.

The younger generation should learn from the spirit of the predecessors, look at the various difficulties faced by human beings in the process of development from a world perspective, and explore solutions on this basis.

Now: Unity in the face of difficulties is the right way

  With the passage of time, the nearly 20,000 overseas Chinese who joined the US military that year have gradually entered history.

According to reports, fewer than 1,000 people are still alive.

Over the years, Zhang Guoxiong has been in contact with many overseas Chinese and Chinese veterans during World War II. They have enjoyed local government subsidies, medical care is guaranteed, and their later life is well taken care of.

  "Talking about that experience, they feel honored to participate in the important historical event of World War II." Zhang Guoxiong said that overseas Chinese are masters, and as members of the country, they contribute to the development of the country and world peace.

"The history of World War II shows that when living in the country faced major challenges, the overseas Chinese and the local people lived in the same trench, fighting for the same goal as a whole."

Data map: On December 22, 2018, the American Beijing Federation and other Southern California Chinese groups came to the American Veterans Association in Monterey Park, Greater Los Angeles, to condolences the centenary World War II hero Sanchez and other American veterans and gave Christmas gifts. Day gift.

Photo by China News Agency reporter Zhang Shuo

  Zhang Guoxiong said that as an international immigrant group, overseas Chinese and Chinese people generally have world care.

He cited as an example, in the 1931 "September 18" incident, overseas Chinese in Europe, America, Southeast Asia and other regions opposed Japan's invasion of China while also appealing to international organizations to stop aggression for world peace.

  "Overseas Chinese and Chinese are participants in the European anti-fascist battlefield and defenders of world peace. When the destiny of mankind is in danger, they have contributed to world justice and peace. The history of overseas Chinese and Chinese participation in World War II is to safeguard the common destiny of mankind. Historical memory." Xia Yuqing pointed out that re-citing history is not only to remember the contributions and sacrifices of overseas Chinese, but also to warn the world to cherish peace.

Data map: On April 17, 2021 local time, hundreds of people participated in a rally against discrimination against Asians in Millbrae, San Francisco Bay Area, USA.

With the outbreak and spread of the new crown epidemic, there has been a surge of discrimination and violence against Asian groups in American society.

Photo by China News Agency reporter Liu Guanguan

  Look at history and look at reality.

Under the new crown pneumonia epidemic, hate crimes against Asians in the United States have increased.

The two experts pointed out that in this context, revisiting the history of World War II has transformed the spiritual qualities displayed by overseas Chinese in World War II into social cognition, which has positive and far-reaching significance.

  "This history is strong evidence and historical facts to fight back against ethnic inequality." Xia Yuqing said frankly that overseas Chinese and Chinese are contributors to the country where they live, and Asians are important members of the country where they live, and they should not be subjected to injustice and discrimination.

  Zhang Guoxiong pointed out that the contribution of overseas Chinese to World War II can be used as a good historical and cultural resource to help other ethnic groups to objectively understand the behavioral characteristics of overseas Chinese and Chinese communities, and to promote the harmonious coexistence of overseas Chinese and other ethnic groups.

Therefore, it is necessary to clarify the contribution of the overseas Chinese in World War II so that the local people can understand the difficulties of the overseas Chinese and the local people during the difficult times in the United States.

  "The world is an interdependent whole, and we need the voice of justice. Only when all ethnic groups unite can we overcome difficulties." Zhang Guoxiong said.

(Finish)