World War II holds lessons for more secure world: scholars

The constructive collaboration among major powers to end World War II serves as a valuable example for building a stable and secure world in the future, a Russian scholar said on Sept 2.

"Despite significant political and ideological differences, the allied powers managed to cooperate effectively in the face of a global threat," said Alexander Lukin, professor of international relations at the National Research University Higher School of Economics in Moscow. The allied powers refer primarily to the United States, the United Kingdom, China and the Soviet Union.

Lukin was speaking at a roundtable discussion "The End of World War II in the Pacific: Its Consequences and Legacy" held by the Russian Consulate General in Hong Kong.

Noting this is the first time that the consulate held a discussion on the topic of WWII, Russia's Consul-General in Hong Kong, Anatoly Kargapolov, said with the growing influence of Asia, the interest in the history of the Far East, including WWII, has received more attention in Russia.

"This year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Russia and China," said Kargapolov. "Many experts in Russia continue to research the topic of the Soviet Manchurian Strategic Offensive operation which resulted in the liberation of Northeast China from the Japanese."

Kargapolov said the consulate also specifically chose the topic after seeing the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region paying greater attention to this period in history, with the Hong Kong Museum of the War of Resistance and Coastal Defence to be opened on Sept 4.

"It is found that Russian emigrants and Soviet sailors had been killed or injured during an attack on (Hong Kong) by the Japanese military in 1941," said Kargapolov.

After reviewing the Soviet Union's involvement in China, Japan and the Korean Peninsula during WWII, Lukin, the Russian scholar, said the Soviet Union played a pivotal role in ending WWII in the Pacific and shaping the postwar landscape of the region.

Michael Share, visiting professor at the Department of History at the Hong Kong Baptist University, said that compared to the discussions on WWII in Europe, its study in Asia has been neglected.

Share pointed out that WWII caused huge damage and destruction across Asia with millions dead and infrastructure destroyed.

Hung Wing Lok, lecturer of social science at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, said WWII affected Hong Kong in different dimensions, ranging from its population and housing to industries and human capital.

"The population in Hong Kong was about 1.6 million at that time and about 600,000 were coming from the Chinese mainland during the war," said Hung.

In December 1941, Japan attacked Hong Kong and conquered the city, then a British colony, after just 18 days, to usher in "three years and eight months of darkness" under Japanese occupation.

Edmund Sheng Li, distinguished professor of Shandong University's Qingdao campus, said the Soviet Union played a decisive role both in the war theaters in Europe and in the Far East during WWII, while also contributing to the founding of the Communist Party of China, the formation of the anti-Japanese National United Front in China and the founding of the People's Republic of China.

Noting the Soviet Union was the first to recognize the PRC and establish diplomatic relations in 1949, Sheng said it provided China with considerable support.

Sheng noted the contributions of the Soviet Union to China and the world during and after WWII embody the spirit of concerted efforts, unity and mutual assistance.

"Today, we pledge to uphold the hard-won victory (in WW II), and deepen the friendly and cooperative relations between China and Russia for our mutual benefit," said Sheng.

A photo exhibition dedicated to the liberation of northern and eastern China in WW II was also held alongside the roundtable discussion with photos and documents provided by the embassy of Russia in Beijing.