Liverpool event marks Chinese heroism in World War II

CGTN Europe

China's role in World War II has been remembered at a special event in Liverpool to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the conflict.  Echoes of Peace was organized by China Media Group and CGTN, and held at the Bluecoat Gallery. It was attended by diplomats, historians, relatives of veterans, and local community leaders.  CGTN’s Ray Addison reports from Liverpool.  Read more: https://tinyurl.com/2wbya28s

Transcript

00:00At Liverpool's Blue Coat Gallery, diplomats, historians and relatives of veterans gathered

00:05the echoes of peace, marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.

00:10Today, eight decades later, we look back on those years of fire and sacrifice,

00:16not only to honour historical truth, but also to draw wisdom and strength from them.

00:22The event highlighted China's often overlooked contribution to the Allied effort,

00:27including stories of resistance, sacrifice and international cooperation.

00:33I think it's very accurate that China has been forgotten.

00:37There are many stories that need to be told, and I think as a historian, I have a job to do, to inspire more research.

00:47There was also a focus on the forgotten story of the Lisbon Maru,

00:51a Japanese transport ship carrying British prisoners of war when it sank in 1942.

00:56Survivors owed their lives to local Chinese fishermen.

01:00I think the biggest story about the Lisbon Maru is that it encompasses both the worst of war and also the best of war.

01:07The worst being what our poor prisoners of war went through,

01:11and then also the humanity of the Chinese who came and saved them at their own risk of their own lives.

01:16Attendees also reflected on post-war challenges, such as the treatment of Chinese sailors

01:21who served in the British Merchant Navy in Liverpool, who were forcefully repatriated after the war,

01:27a story told in CGTN's documentary, The Secret Betrayal.

01:31Those sailors risked their lives to bring food into the Bay of Liverpool to feed us while we were fighting the Germans.

01:43How was the repay? He was repaid by the repatriated.

01:48So what?

01:49They had families here.

01:51It is an injustice.

01:52I was shocked by what has happened with respect to the seamen from Liverpool.

01:58I just didn't know anything about that.

02:00I think it must be devastating to think you've been abandoned by your father.

02:06I personally will do whatever I can to help them resolve some of that in whatever ways we can.

02:12The programme looked ahead, with former world leaders discussing whether today's international order

02:18can withstand new geopolitical tensions.

02:20This dialogue with these meetings, the diplomacy can help to better understand

02:29and to take the responsibility together for the future.

02:36Organisers say the hope is not only to remember past struggles,

02:40but to strengthen understanding between China and the wider world in today's turbulent times.

02:46Perhaps by looking back, we can all move forwards together.

02:50Ray Addison, CGTN, Liverpool.

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