The pandemic will end, just as World War II did. (Trust a 90-year-old on this)

As the Covid-19 pandemic ravages the world and the US-China relationship deteriorates, we should take heart from the fact that the Sino-Japanese War eventually ended and, at one time, the US and China were fierce allies

Chi Wang

Published: 3:30am, 22 Aug 2020

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We are now living a monumental moment in history, one we know will have a lasting effect not only on our own lives but on the entire world. At a time of such historic uncertainty, it is difficult to see a way forward or look past the current crisis. We have no clear idea of what the future holds.

As an old man who has experienced numerous once-in-a-lifetime events in my 90 years, I want to assure you that as daunting as it may seem, the pandemic will end. Yes, the world and your view of it might see a permanent shift, but the world will also recover and we will continue to march forwards.

My entire childhood was shaped by the Sino-Japanese War. I knew of no world without the Japanese threat in it. And yet, somehow, I am now celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Japanese surrender. China is now strong enough and no longer fears invasion. It is astonishing that an event that defined my formative years and shaped my world view ended a lifetime ago.

As the world grapples with yet another defining moment, I find myself looking back on my childhood, memories of which are inextricably woven through with historic events.

Not long after I was born, Japan invaded Manchuria and established the puppet regime of Manchukuo. At the time, my father, general Wang Shuchang, was governor of Hebei province and had a number of troops under his command.

Some of my earliest memories are of my father meeting various military officials to discuss their concerns about the Japanese occupation of Manchuria, which was my father's birthplace, and what they should do to stop the Japanese.

In 1937, their fears became reality. The Marco Polo Bridge Incident marked the beginning of all-out war between China and Japan. I was living in Beijing with my family and distinctly remember watching a truck carrying wounded soldiers drive by. Shattering the peace of our quiet family outing, my older brother shouted, “It must be war!”

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What followed was years of my family moving from city to city trying to outrun the Japanese troops. All the while, my father continued to work as part of the war effort. I struggled to make friends and keep up with classes as we constantly changed cities and schools.

I also witnessed hardships and horrors: wounded soldiers, with missing limbs and blood-soaked bandages, crowded on a passing train, many of whom would probably not live to see their destination. Even at my young age, I began to understand the meaning of war. Through it all, I found comfort in movies.

We finally made our way to Hong Kong Island. It was still a British colony and therefore insulated from the conflict on the mainland. That is, until the bombing started. The Japanese bombed Pearl Harbour and immediately attacked Hong Kong. The Kowloon side of the harbour soon fell, but the island held out, enduring weeks of bombings.

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A building close to ours was a military target. We hid as shells rained down. Eventually, a stray shell hit our home and one of the workers inside was killed. Another was blinded.

On December 25, 1941, Hong Kong surrendered. In the aftermath of the Battle of Hong Kong, there were food and water shortages. Schools closed and stores were looted.

Japanese troops got a mute reception as they paraded through a defeated Hong Kong in 1941. Photo: Getty Images

Soon, Japanese control came into effect – the currency was changed and rations were instated. My father, hoping that even a Japanese-occupied Beijing would be better for our family, managed to get permission for us to move. It was there that we stayed for the remainder of the war.

On August 15, 1945, Japan announced its surrender. The news was shared over loudspeakers in Beijing. The feeling was surreal. I couldn't quite believe it. I rushed out into the street and celebrated with my neighbours, jumping around and laughing. I celebrated – but I didn’t know what a life without worrying about Japan would even be like.

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When the Chinese talk about the Sino-Japanese War, they focus on the plight of the Chinese and the victory over Japanese aggression. When the Americans reference the Pacific War, they mainly focus on the aftermath of Pearl Harbour and the nuclear bombs.

For me, however, what perhaps left the greatest impression was the arrival of American troops in Beijing. They came with chocolate and Coca-Cola, bringing new life and hope to the city. Soon after, my brother, who had been drafted while studying in the US, returned to Beijing, wearing a US military uniform and serving as an interpreter.

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It was the US and China together, my brother among them, that defeated Japan. My interest in the US that had been sparked by Hollywood movies grew even stronger and I knew I needed to go to school in the US. What was originally a temporary move became permanent.

And, remembering the horrors of war and the relief when it ended, I strove to give back to the country that had so markedly changed my life. I dedicated my career to working for the US government, while also striving to encourage the positive US-China relations I had witnessed in my youth.

Today, as the pandemic ravages the world and the US-China relationship deteriorates, I remember that the Sino-Japanese War eventually ended and that at one time the US and China were fierce allies.

Sometimes change happens in what seems like an instant; sometimes the change is so slow we don't even realise it. But change will happen and hopefully, when this pandemic passes, things will begin to change for the better.

Chi Wang, a former head of the Chinese section of the US Library of Congress, is president of the US-China Policy Foundation