China plans to mark its victory over Japan in World War II

BEIJING: China plans to designate September 3 as Victory Day to commemorate its defeat of Japan in World War II, amid tensions between the two countries over a group of disputed islands in the East China Sea.

A draft decision to this effect will be discussed at the bi-monthly session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) -- the rubber-stamp parliament -- from Tuesday until Thursday, state-run Xinhua news agency reported today.

The NPC plans to make September 3 Victory Day of the "Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression", said the report.

"The day must be set through legislative procedures to reflect the will of the Chinese people and remind us of the need to remember history, cherish peace and create a better future," Li Shishi, director of the Legislative Affairs Commission of the NPC Standing Committee, told the NPC.

Japan invaded China in the 1930s and the two sides fought a full-scale war from 1937-1945.

"The war against Japanese aggression was the first in modern history in which China won complete victory over foreign aggressors and an important part of the World Anti-Fascist War," Li said.

The draft decision was also aimed at displaying the important role of the Chinese people's anti-Japanese war in the entire World Anti-Fascist War and expressing China's stance of safeguarding national sovereignty, territorial solidarity and world peace, he said.

It is also intended to carry forward national spirit with its core of patriotism and inspire the drive to realise the Chinese dream of national rejuvenation, Li said.

China and Japan are embroiled in a bitter dispute over a group of uninhabited islands in the East China Sea controlled by Tokyo but claimed by Beijing.