People's Daily, China's leading newspaper, publishes a commentary on August 15 to mark the 60th anniversary of the Chinese people's victory in the war of resistance against Japanese aggression, highlighting the Communist Party of China (CPC)'s vital role in winning the war.

On Aug. 15, 1945, Japan declared its unconditional surrender, and the Chinese people scored a complete victory for the first time in more than a century in fighting foreign aggressors. The victory marked "a great transition for the Chinese nation from decline to renewal," said the commentary.

"History has proved that a weak China defeated a strong Japan, and the miraculous victory was thanks to the CPC who, representing the will of all Chinese people, led and promoted the great war of resistance against Japanese aggression, fought at the forefront, and played a pivotal role in uniting the whole nation in the war of resistance," the paper said.

The commentary then elaborated in five aspects of the CPC's pivotal role.

On Sept. 18, 1931, Japanese troops started large-scale invasion of Northeast China. At that time it was the CPC that made the first call on the whole nation to join forces to fight the enemy, and organized a guerilla force in the Northeast to fight the Japanese aggressors.

In 1935, the CPC issued the "August 1st Declaration", calling on the whole nation to form a national united front to fight against Japanese aggression, which rallied all patriotic forces in the war of resistance.

The CPC provided a correct strategic guidance to the war of resistance, which ensured the final victory of the war. A number of works by CPC leader Mao Zedong helped Chinese people have a correct understanding of the situation and enhanced their confidence in the final victory.

The CPC set up a large number of base areas for the war of resistance against Japanese aggression, which effectively consumed the enemy's strength and created favorable conditions for the final counter attack on the Japanese troops.

A large number of CPC members played an exemplary role in the war of resistance by selfless sacrifice. They won the support of the people, enhance the confidence of the whole nation, and rallied powerful national strength for winning the final victory.

The newspaper said that both history and reality prove that the CPC is the vanguard of the working class, the Chinese people and the Chinese nation. It will surely play a pivotal role in the renewal of the Chinese nation in this new century.

Source: Xinhua