After the grand military parade on Sept. 3, 2015, a Weibo entry "This is the flourishing age as you would like it to be" tagged with a photo of former Premier Zhou Enlai has been forwarded millions of times. In 1949, at the founding ceremony of New China, there were not enough planes to form air echelon for the review. Zhou suggested those planes to fly over the Tiananmen Square twice. Compared with the vulnerable past of China, the thriving and strong national power and defense capability shown through the Sept. 3 troop review are sufficient enough to comfort the deceased and motivate the descendant.

Ever since the Opium War, the nation of China had been under disgrace and humiliation. From a giant being bullied to a waking lion of the East, what is the code for its revitalization? 14 years of War of Resistance against Japan, especially the eight years of total resistance against the Japanese by the whole nation, is the most convincing evidence for the transform.

Facing the national calamity, men, women, children, the seniors, and people of different nations in China all came together to fight against the Japanese invasion. Some of them could not even read, but they understood that every man had the responsibility to defend his country; some of them were not even armed, but they could grab an iron machete and never held back. Because of the courage and integrity of the Chinese people, China was not defeated, and the Chinese nation stood up instead ever since.

14 years of the resistance war is a history of a nation’s struggle, awakening, and endeavor. Trigged by the war, China found its own position, developed the idea of community, and united the people. In a weak country with vulnerable defense, people’s lives are also under threat and depend on a thread; while for a strong country with powerful defense, its people are protected and their lives can be secured.

Faith from people gives a nation hope, accountability from individuals grant the country power.