by Xinhua writer Jin Jing

LONDON, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- China's role in the World Anti-Fascist War was "indispensable" and the Chinese contribution to the war victory is "definitely underappreciated" by the West, said Anthony Jones, chair of the Lisbon Maru Memorial Association (LiMMA).

The Chinese people sustained the main eastern battlefield and tied down millions of Japanese troops, which not only prevented further Japanese military advances but also allowed the Allies to focus their efforts elsewhere, Jones told Xinhua in a recent interview.

The wartime suffering of the Chinese people, both soldiers and civilians, was "extraordinary," said Jones.

"Recognizing this is not just about seeking credit, but about acknowledging the victory that was truly a global effort. And I think it helps us see the fuller picture of how peace was achieved on a global scale," Jones said.

On Wednesday, commemorative events were held in Beijing to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

Describing the anniversary as "a moment of profound significance," Jones said that it is not just about remembering the past, but also about the present and future.

"It's really important that we remember the enormous sacrifices made by the Chinese people and by people everywhere all around the world who are fighting against fascism at that time," said Jones, whose grandfather, Thomas Theodore Jones, was among the rescued British prisoners of war (POWs) in the Lisbon Maru incident in October 1942.

The Lisbon Maru, a cargo vessel requisitioned by the Japanese army to transport more than 1,800 British POWs from China's Hong Kong to Japan, was torpedoed off the Zhoushan Islands in eastern China by a U.S. submarine after failing to display mandated POW transport markings. As the vessel sank, Chinese fishermen of Dongji braved the Japanese machine-gun fire and rescued 384 of the British POWs from the sea.

LiMMA was set up by the families of Lisbon Maru survivors in 2024 to pass on this part of wartime history. It plans to organize an annual remembrance gathering at the Lisbon Maru Memorial at Britain's National Memorial Arboretum. This year's gathering will be held on Oct. 2, marking the 83rd anniversary of the sinking of the Lisbon Maru.

Jones welcomed the recent international screening of the Chinese-produced documentary "The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru" and the movie "Dongji Rescue," both of which help relive this lesser-known chapter of history.

"It's very much our duty to make sure the lesson of history is never forgotten, so that future generations understand the cost of war and the value of peace," he said.

In May, Jones and 17 other descendants of the Chinese-rescued Lisbon Maru survivors traveled to eastern China, where they witnessed the unveiling of a memorial honoring the heroic rescue 83 years ago.

Jones described the Chinese people he met as "all kind, caring and inviting."

"I think there are forged relationships whilst I was there that will last a lifetime," he said.

Meanwhile, Jones emphasized the importance of safeguarding the post-war international order, noting that it was built on the conviction that the world must never again descend into similar destruction.

"No country, no matter how powerful, can solve today's challenges alone. Safeguarding a multi-polar world and promoting inclusive globalization means ensuring that all nations, large and small, all have a voice and that we all share in the development," he said.

As a major country and the world's second-largest economy, China plays an "essential" role in achieving this, Jones added.

"We need China to continue advocating for peace, strengthening cooperation, and promoting growth mutually beneficial for all. That's how I would see that we can keep the world stable and create conditions for shared prosperity," he added. ■