The shared history of China and the United Kingdom fighting side by side against fascism and militarism during World War II should be remembered and carried forward in the spirit of cooperation when the world's peace and stability are facing new challenges, China's ambassador to the UK has said.
"The world is undergoing the most profound and complex changes since World War II, as unilateralism and protectionism run rampant. The international system centered on the United Nations is under attack, and world peace and development face unprecedented challenges," said Zheng Zeguang. "What should we do? We should be very vigilant. We should work together."
The ambassador made the remarks at a Chinese New Year reception held in London on Saturday for members of the Lisbon Maru Memorial Association and the Society of Anglo-Chinese Understanding, or SACU.
Zheng commended the two organizations for their work in promoting people-to-people exchanges and friendship between China and the UK through commemoration of the Lisbon Maru incident and the story of George Hogg, respectively.
The Lisbon Maru was a cargo vessel used by the Japanese army to transport more than 1,800 British prisoners of war from Hong Kong to Japan during WWII. In October 1942, the ship was mistakenly struck by a US submarine off the coast of China's Zhejiang province, and local Chinese fishermen from Dongji Island rescued 384 prisoners from the sea, who would otherwise have drowned or been shot by the Japanese army.
George Hogg was a young Briton who came to China in 1938 and dedicated his life to China's fight against Japanese invaders. He first worked as a journalist writing reports for British and US media outlets that exposed Japanese atrocities. Later, he participated in the Chinese Industrial Cooperative movement on the home front, organizing the production of essential supplies and teaching young people practical skills. Hogg died in China in July 1945 at the age of 30.
"In Japan, which once launched the war of aggression against China, we're seeing the dangerous tendency of resurgence of militarism," Zheng said. "We have to call out and continue to work closely with the Japanese people to scale back these dangerous tendencies
Noting that China and the UK were founding members of the UN and both are permanent members of the UN Security Council, Zheng said China and the UK bear special responsibilities in safeguarding the post-war international order.
"This shared history and aspirations of the Chinese and British peoples provide the greatest driving force and the most reliable foundation for developing China-UK relations," he added.
Anthony Jones, chairman of the Lisbon Maru Memorial Association, spoke at the reception about the association's work of organizing memorial services at the National Memorial Arboretum, traveling to Dongji Island to pay tributes to the Chinese fishermen, and building a dedicated website, which now attracts around 200 visits per day.
"The story of the Lisbon Maru is being heard more widely than ever before. For many years, it was a quiet history, known only to a few. Today, it is receiving attention and understanding it has long deserved," said Jones. "We will continue to tell these stories carefully and truthfully, and to ensure that each of the 1,816 men is remembered, not simply as a number, but as a husband, as a father, and as a brother, that is our commitment."
Zoe Reed, chair emerita of the SACU, recounted the experience she and other members had viewing the parade marking the 80th anniversary of China's victory in World War II in Beijing in September.
"It was a true honor to be invited to that, and to be part of something of such profound importance to the Chinese people, and to participate in such an extraordinarily impressive commemorative day," she said.
Peter Jarvis, who is the grandnephew of George Hogg and also the chair designate of SACU, talked about the trip organized by SACU to China last April, during which he and other members followed in Hogg's footsteps across the country to learn the history and honor Hogg's deeds.
"We went to Nanjing and saw the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre, which left a huge impression on everyone. It's a terrible story that we learned about in much more detail," said Jarvis. "We also went to Shandan and saw the Bailie school, which Hogg helped set up in the 1930s and '40s ... It's really proud as a relative to see that the small kernel that he and many others planted back then is still living in this technical college now in Shandan."
"Fundamentally, English people and Chinese people have a lot in common, and we all value the friendship we have between the two peoples, and that's really SACU's aim," he said.
Around 100 families and friends of the survivors of the Lisbon Maru, as well as SACU members, attended the event, and said they are willing to carry forward the friendship between the British and Chinese peoples, continue to enhance mutual understanding, and contribute to the sound and steady development of bilateral relations.
Guests also watched Chinese cultural performances, including Ansai waist drum and Yangge dance from Shaanxi province, Wu Opera face-changing from Jiangxi province, and traditional Chinese music solos.
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