China's Assistant Foreign Minister Hong Lei speaks at a press conference on August 28, 2025, on the V-Day commemorations. Photo: VCG

In response to a media inquiry that Japan has been paying close attention to China's V-Day commemorations, with some voices suggesting that China is using historical issues to pressure Japan and interfere with Japan's narrative of World War II, and in recent years, certain forces in Japan have been seeking to loosen military restrictions, downplay or even distort the history of aggression, and attempt to shape a perception that "Japan was a victim of the war," China's Assistant Foreign Minister Hong Lei said on Thursday that safeguarding historical truth and upholding the correct view of history concerns human conscience, international justice, and world peace.

Whether Japan can correctly understand and address history is the litmus test of whether it will uphold conscience and stay committed to peaceful development, Hong said.

There has always been a force within Japan attempting to deny history, whitewash aggression, distort and tamper with historical facts, and even vindicate and glorify war criminals of that era. This is a challenge to the post-war international order, a challenge to human conscience, and a challenge to all peace-loving people, Hong said.

In recent years, Japan has also significantly adjusted its security policies, continuously increased its defense budget, relaxed restrictions on arms exports, and sought to develop breakthrough military capabilities. These moves inevitably raise grave concerns among its Asian neighbors and the international community about whether Japan is truly committed to the principle of exclusive self-defense and the path of peaceful development, Hong said.

On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, as Japan faces the questions of history and of the times, we hope the Japanese side will face up to history, deeply reflect on its historical guilt, make a clean break with militarism, and follow the right path of peaceful development and good-neighborliness, Hong said.