Published : 2025-09-03

September 3, 1946, was designated as the Victory Day of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.

At 9:00 a.m. on September 2, 1945 (Tokyo Time), representatives of the Allied Powers participating in the war against Japan accepted Japan's surrender aboard a U.S. warship anchored in Tokyo Bay, Japan. A signing ceremony was held that same day.

Japanese representatives signed the Instrument of Surrender, followed by representatives from nine nations including China, the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union. This marked the victorious conclusion of China's War of Resistance Against Japan.

The Nationalist Government of the Republic of China (ROC) at the time ordered nationwide celebrations for three days starting September 3, and the following year designated that day as the Victory Day of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.

However, after the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC), the Victory Day was temporarily changed to August 15.

In 1951, the State Council issued a notice reinstating September 3 as the Victory Day of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.

The notice stated that while August 15 had previously been observed as the victory date, subsequent verification confirmed Japan's formal surrender occurred after the Japanese government signed the surrender treaty on September 2, 1945. Therefore, the Victory Day should be officially designated as September 3.

Subsequently, at the 7th Session of the Standing Committee of the 12th National People's Congress on February 27, 2014, authorities formally enacted a resolution through national legislation, establishing September 3 as the "Victory Day of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression" annually.