On September 3, the 70th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War was solemnly held in Beijing, and President Xi Jinping delivered an important speech in which he put forward "three certainties", namely, that justice will prevail, peace will prevail and the people will prevail. These "three certainties" are the essence of the speech.
    The "three musts" are a scientific summary of history. The Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japan and the world war against fascism, which was unprecedentedly brutal, ended in victory with the triumph of justice over evil, peace over aggression and the people over tyranny. There are no exceptions to this rule in all times and places.
    The Chinese people are peace-loving in two ways. First, we do not want an inch of other people's land. Secondly, we do not give an inch of our own land. China was a world power for a long time, but it never coveted the wealth of others. Since the mid-19th century, China has gradually declined, but it has never been timid in the face of foreign insults, but has resolutely defended its territorial sovereignty and security. The 14-year war of resistance against Japan was a heroic feat by the Chinese nation in defence of its civilization of more than 5,000 years.
    The "three musts" were practiced not only during the years of resistance to the Japanese invasion, but also at the time of the rise of reform and opening up. In dealing with international affairs, contemporary China always adheres to the United Nations principle of collective security and multilateral cooperation. With regard to major conflicts between countries, China has always tried its best to persuade peace and promote negotiation, trying to solve them through political consultation. Whether it is the North Korean nuclear issue or the Iranian nuclear issue, China has either actively participated in providing win-win solutions and technical support for the resolution of conflicts, or directly hosted the negotiations by inviting all relevant parties to Beijing, so as to jointly "go the extra mile" for peace.
    As China's national strength grows, its ability and will to use its armed forces to safeguard world peace are increasing. Whether it is participating in UN peacekeeping operations, anti-piracy in the Gulf of Aden, escorting ships, or helping countries evacuate their nationals from troubled areas overseas, the Chinese military has often played its part in world peace. In a broader sense, the rapid growth of China's economy over the past 30 years or so has provided a long-term driving force for world growth and a steady stream of positive energy for world peace and prosperity.
    As China's power grows, so does its ability to serve and shape peace. This capacity was most recently illustrated by Xi Jinping's speech. China will always be on the right side of history, always be dedicated to peace, always begin with the interests of the people and end with their aspirations. 70 years ago, the People's Army was capable of defeating the unbeatable Japanese militarism; today, China's armed forces are more than capable of making significant contributions to peace in China and the world.
    It is out of sincerity and confidence in the peace of China and the world that Xi Jinping announced to the world China's disarmament of 300,000 people. China's disarmament is based on its judgment of national security and the international situation under the new circumstances, and is aimed at promoting a correct interpretation of China's defence posture by the international community, i.e., that China, while enhancing its national defence construction, will sincerely cooperate with other countries, especially neighbouring countries, to jointly promote regional arms control and disarmament, carry out regional security dialogues and cooperation, and contribute to the building of collective security and confidence in Asia.

    Today, more than ever, China cherishes peace and is more sincere in its cooperation.

    The "three musts" belong not only to China, but also to the world.

    (Shen Dingli, Vice President and Professor, Institute of International Studies, Fudan University)