China-Kenya mark WWII victory, urge global unity
National
By
Brian Ngugi
| Aug 15, 2025
Top Kenyan officials and China's ambassador convened in Nairobi on Thursday to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, seen as a pivotal segment of the broader World Anti-Fascist War.
The event underscored China's immense sacrifices during the conflict and drew parallels with Kenya's own historical struggle for independence, with a strong call for robust international cooperation in an increasingly complex global landscape marked by growing unilateral tendencies.
China’s Ambassador to Kenya Guo Haiyan highlighted the profound cost of China's resistance, which spanned 14 years, beginning in September 1931 with the Mukden Incident in Northeast China.
This protracted conflict, she noted, resulted in more than 35 million Chinese military and civilian casualties, representing a "major contribution to the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War.
Ambassador Guo firmly stated that any attempts to "discard the truths of World War II, deny the outcomes of the victory of World War II, and smear the historic contribution of China will invariably fail.
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Kisii County Governor Simba Arati challenged prevailing Western historical narratives, asserting that they often ‘overlook the earlier and equally critical resistance efforts by China since 1931 and African nations since 1935’.
He emphasised the importance of confronting narratives that cast Japan as a victim, neglecting its role as the aggressor and highlighted China's solidarity with African nations, citing its condemnation of fascist Italy's invasion of Ethiopia in 1935.
Ms Anne Wang'ombe, the Principal Secretary for Gender Affairs and Affirmative Action within Kenya’s Ministry of Gender, Culture, and Children's Services, spoke to the disproportionate impact of armed conflict on vulnerable groups.
"War is never gender-neutral," she stated, noting that women, children, and persons with disabilities bear a heavier burden.
She also observed that World War II, though imposed on Kenya, ‘paradoxically ignited a wave of national consciousness that accelerated the collapse of the colonial system’ across Africa.
A consistent theme among the speakers was the critical role of multilateralism—the principle of cooperation among multiple countries—and the United Nations (UN), an intergovernmental organization established after World War II to promote international cooperation.
Ambassador Guo expressed deep concern about what she described as a worrying trend.
"What is worrying is that, in recent years, certain countries, on the pretext of 'my country first,' blatantly violate the purposes and principles of the UN Charter," she warned.
She said selectively applying and even attempting to change the basic principles of international law and place domestic laws above international law and international obligations.
This, she said, goes against the key principles of international law, such as sovereign equality for states and non-interference of internal affairs, and severely undermine the authority and effectiveness of the international system.
The Ambassador also strongly denounced what she termed a ‘cold-war mentality and hegemonic behaviour’ aiming to disrupt the collaborative relationship between Kenya and China, emphasising that such cooperation serves "the well-being of our two peoples.
The Ambassador also reiterated China's position on Taiwan, asserting its "return to China" as a key outcome of World War II, affirmed by international legal documents.
The commemoration concluded with a unified call to learn from historical sacrifices, reinforce global peace, and foster a more equitable and just future for all nations.