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Tag: Yu Dunhai

  • Chinese envoy urges global commitment to peace, to avoid another world war

    Chinese envoy urges global commitment to peace, to avoid another world war

    The Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, has urged the international community to remain committed to the principles of the United Nations in order to prevent a repeat of the tragedies of the Second World War.

     Yu made the call in Abuja at the screening of Dead to Rights, a film depicting the 1937 Nanjing Massacre, held to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

    The envoy described the Nanjing Massacre, where Japanese forces killed more than 300,000 civilians and soldiers, as “one of the darkest chapters in modern world history.” He said the film not only served as remembrance but also as a reminder of the dangers of forgetting history.

    “Let history be our guide. Let us preserve, with resolve, the hard-won outcomes of World War II,” Yu said. “Together, let us steer the global order toward a future defined by fairness, justice, and equality for all.”

    He recalled that: “In 1931, driven by militarism, Japan launched a brutal war of aggression against China. Then, on December 13, 1937, after capturing the city of Nanjing, Japanese invaders carried out a horrific massacre that lasted six weeks. More than 300,000 Chinese civilians and soldiers were killed, a tragedy now known as the Nanjing Massacre.

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    “This remains one of the darkest chapters in modern world history and a profound, enduring sorrow in the hearts of the Chinese people. The film we are about to watch, Dead to Rights, is inspired by these historical events. It offers a unique perspective for reflecting on this period and reminds us of a history we must never forget.”

    Yu cautioned against the rise of historical revisionism and global instability, stressing that nations must resist unilateralism and safeguard the principles of the UN Charter. He also highlighted China’s role as the main Eastern battlefield of the war, noting that the country endured 14 years of resistance, with over 35 million casualties and economic losses exceeding $600 billion.

    “The best way to honour their sacrifice is to cherish peace, protect peace, and strengthen international cooperation,” he added.

    Yu further emphasized the importance of China-Nigeria ties, describing both nations as key players in the Global South with shared values of fairness, justice, and development. He said their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership should be deepened through political dialogue, cultural exchanges, and people-to-people cooperation.

    “Cinema has the power to tell history in ways textbooks cannot,” he said. “By watching, reflecting, and remembering, we reaffirm our shared humanity and our collective responsibility to build a more peaceful world.”

  • Chinese envoy seeks unity, justice for stability of international community

    Chinese envoy seeks unity, justice for stability of international community

    Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, has called for global unity, fairness, justice, and order for more stability and certainty into the international community.

    Dunhai spoke at a symposium marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

    He said: “This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, as well as the 80th anniversary of the restoration of Taiwan region.

    “At this new historical starting point, let’s work together to safeguard the outcomes of the WWII victory, uphold international fairness, justice, and order, inject more stability and certainty into the international community.”

    Dunhai also recounted the beginning of the Chinese resistance with the September 18th Incident of 1931 and the 14-year struggle that followed. “The Chinese people defeated the brutal Japanese militarist invaders and won a great victory in defending the nation.

    “It was through the tremendous sacrifices of the Chinese people, who fought to the end on the Eastern battlefield, that led to the ultimate victory,” he said.

    The envoy acknowledged Nigerian soldiers who fought in British Burma during the war, recognizing their role in the broader Allied effort.

    “They, too, played a unique role in our shared fight for the victory,” he noted.

    Dunhai credited the Communist Party of China with leading the resistance. “It was the CPC that first raised the banner of armed resistance and formed the Anti-Japanese National United Front,” he said.

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    He cautioned against historical distortion. “We have a duty to confront any attempt to distort the truth of WWII, deny its outcome, or belittle China’s contribution.

    “To truly honour this great victory, the way forward is to uphold a correct historical perspective on WWII and reject all forms of historical nihilism,” the ambassador noted.

    Dunhai also addressed Taiwan’s status, calling its return to China a key outcome of the post-war order.

    “No matter how the situation in the Taiwan region evolves or what disruptions external forces may create, the historical trend toward China’s complete reunification is unstoppable,” he said.

    He praised Nigeria for reaffirming its support for the One-China principle and called for deeper bilateral cooperation.

    “Our comprehensive strategic partnership has grown beyond bilateral scope and now carries significant global significance.

    “Let’s work together to safeguard the outcomes of the WWII victory, uphold international fairness, justice, and order,” the ambassador said.

    He also urged Nigeria to join hands with China for sound development.

    The envoy said: “Let’s join hands to advance the steady and sound development of China-Nigeria relations, and bring greater benefits to the peoples of both countries.”

    He also added: “At this historic moment, today’s symposium offers us an opportunity to reflect on the past, honor our heroes, and reaffirm our commitment to peace and a shared future.”

    Also speaking at the event, the Director of the Centre for China Studies, Charles Onunaiju, highlighted the devastating impact of the war, particularly the atrocities committed during the Nanjing Massacre.

    “Over 300,000 civilians and disarmed soldiers were gruesomely murdered,” he said, describing the period as a test of national endurance that also ushered in profound political transformation.

    Onunaiju noted that the formation of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and the “Three Thirds System” in CPC-controlled areas laid the groundwork for modern Chinese political inclusion.

    He echoed Chinese President Xi Jinping’s view that the world is increasingly becoming “a community with a shared future, in which we all have a little of others within us,” and stressed that China’s foreign policy remains rooted in the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence.

    Discussing Nigeria-China relations, Onunaiju described the two countries’ partnership as one built on mutual respect and support for sovereignty and territorial integrity.

    “The pace of Nigeria-China cooperation could move even faster, and its scope growing boundless, and the opportunities, limitless with a confidence between the two, solid as rock,” he said.

    He commended Amb. Dunhai and his team for their efforts in strengthening bilateral ties and urged the Nigerian government to match China’s engagement with action.

    “The lessons of China’s wartime resistance should endure and illuminate our collective path, going forward,” Onunaiju concluded.

    Adding his voice, the Director of the Centre for Contemporary China-Africa Research in Nigeria, Professor Sheriff Ibrahim, condemned colonialism and praised China’s patriotic resolve.

    “Colonial policy of any kind is inhumane and should be rejected,” he said. “No nation can strive without patriotism. What was seen in China was patriotism and love for one’s nation.”