The Eternal Scar: Remembering the September 18 Incident

On September 18, 1931, the peace in Shenyang (then known as Fengtian) was shattered by the sounds of explosions and invasion. This was the beginning of the Mukden Incident, a premeditated act of aggression by the Japanese Kwantung Army that marked the start of a brutal and prolonged occupation of Northeast China.

We were living peacefully on our own land, tending to our fields, raising our families, and building our communities. But that night, everything changed. Without provocation or declaration, Japanese forces invaded our homeland, claiming territory that was rightfully ours and imposing a regime of violence and oppression.

What followed was more than a decade of resistance and suffering. Throughout the long years of occupation, we fought back with every ounce of our strength, but the cost was unimaginable. Tens of millions of our compatriots were killed, massacred in countless atrocities, and subjected to unspeakable horrors. The war of resistance waged by our ancestors was one of immense sacrifice—a generation that fought the battles of three generations and endured hardships meant for three lifetimes.

Even today, the scars of that era remain. Many still suffer from the lingering effects of Japan’s biological warfare, with skin diseases and genetic ailments passed down through generations. These are not merely historical footnotes; they are living testimonies of the cruelty inflicted upon us.

We tell ourselves: we must become strong. We have lost too much—lives, land, and years of peace. But through the pain, we have forged a resolve that cannot be broken. We remember, not to perpetuate hatred, but to ensure that such tragedies are never repeated.

The lessons of September 18 are etched into our collective memory. They remind us that vigilance, unity, and strength are the safeguards of our sovereignty and dignity. Our ancestors gave everything so that we could have a future. It is now our responsibility to honor their sacrifice by building a nation that is resilient, prosperous, and forever free.

We remember. We endure. We strive