2015年CRI UK Expert on China's V-Day Parade: Would Like to See More Local Commemorations

 

For Hans Van de Ven, Professor of Modern Chinese History at Cambridge, China's Second World War commemoration on Thursday was a way to strengthen national identity among the general public.

"The War is presented as an effort by all of China to resist aggression¹ and that sort of eradicates² the differences between the Communists and the Nationalists and so I think attempt to be inclusive was really there and many people will see this as positive."

He says China played an important role during the Second World War but its story has not been properly told. And by inviting³ foreign contingents⁴ to participate in its military parade, China sees itself as part of a broader alliance.

"Had China sided with Japan, which was not entirely⁵ impossible, then Japan would have been able to utilize⁶ China's resources and China's man power for not only the occupations of South East Asia but also to fight the Russians, and the whole World War II would have been rather different."

However, Professor Hans did point out that European audiences often associate such military parades with assertions of power and that's may be part of the reason why China's V-Day Parade is misinterpreted in some cases. He explains that in Europe, war commemorations are usually on the solemn side. Also, while national scale commemorations are important, he would be glad to see more local remembrances that engage people who have survived the Second World War.

"By this I mean there are national commemorations in the UK and across the European countries as well as the United States, but we also have some local commemorations in universities, in schools, villages and in our neighborhoods, and people are telling their own stories. I think it would something really really good if that could happen in China as well."

Professor Hans Van de Ven was guest professor at the Department of History of Nanjing University and co-editor of Negotiating China's Destiny in World War II published by Stanford University Press, 2014.

For CRI, I'm Duan Xuelian in London.

1 aggression   

n.进攻，侵略，侵犯，侵害

参考例句：

• So long as we are firmly united, we need fear no aggression.只要我们紧密地团结，就不必惧怕外来侵略。
• Her view is that aggression is part of human nature.她认为攻击性是人类本性的一部份。

2 eradicates   

根除者( eradicate的名词复数 )； 褪色灵

参考例句：

• Time proves, delivers, alters and eradicates ad infinitum. 时间能证明一切，给予一切，改变一切，也能消灭一切。
• The Jinshan Dam took when flood-diversion sluice downriver anti-water barrier, it eradicates cannot have artificial resistance. 金山坝作为分洪闸下游阻水障碍时，其破除不会有人为的阻力。

3 inviting   

adj.诱人的，引人注目的

参考例句：

• An inviting smell of coffee wafted into the room.一股诱人的咖啡香味飘进了房间。
• The kitchen smelled warm and inviting and blessedly familiar.这间厨房的味道温暖诱人，使人感到亲切温馨。

4 contingents   

（志趣相投、尤指来自同一地方的）一组与会者( contingent的名词复数 )； 代表团； （军队的）分遣队； 小分队

参考例句：

• We were forced to rely on French contingents. 我们势必被迫依恃法国驻军。
• The internal security forces are composed of contingents and mobile divisions. 内卫部队由各总队和机动师组成。

5 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

6 utilize   

vt.使用，利用

参考例句：

• The cook will utilize the leftover ham bone to make soup.厨师要用吃剩的猪腿骨做汤。
• You must utilize all available resources.你必须利用一切可以得到的资源。