Historical museum receives donation of documents recording Japan’s invasion of China

The 9.18 Historical Museum in Shenyang, capital city of northeast China's Liaoning Province, has received 14 pictorial documents recording Japan's invasion of China from a private donor ahead of the 93rd anniversary of the September 18 Incident which marked the start of the invasion.

These precious documents, donated by collector Zhan Hongge, provide new evidence for studying the history of the September 18 Incident in 1931 and the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-1945).

The pictorials were published by the Japanese militarists from 1932 to 1942, recording the September 18 Incident, their invasion of northeast China, the establishment of the puppet state Manchukuo, and their invasion of Beijing, Nanjing, Wuhan and Chongqing.

"These historical documents play a better role in the museum. They can educate the younger generations, particularly the youth, to gain a deeper understanding of the history. We should not forget national humiliation and cherish peace," Zhan said.

Most of the photos published on the documents were taken by Japanese military correspondents or professional reporters in the frontline battlefields and Japanese-occupied areas to report on the war situation in various places.

"Today, more than 90 years later, these historical documents have become irrefutable evidence of Japan's invasion of China and a crucial part of the historical materials on the war. They reveal the historical truth and the whole process of Japan's planning of the September 18 Incident and the July 7 Incident and their large-scale armed invasion of China," said Fan Lihong, curator of the museum.

On September 18, 1931, Japanese troops blew up a section of railway under their control near Shenyang and accused Chinese troops of sabotage as a pretext for the attack. Later that night, they bombarded barracks near Shenyang.

The resistance efforts of the Chinese people after the September 18 Incident signaled the beginning of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression.

Historical museum receives donation of documents recording Japan’s invasion of China

U.S. stocks ended lower on Wednesday, after the Federal Reserve announced a 0.5-percentage-point interest rate cut.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 103.08 points, or 0.25 percent, to 41,503.1. The Standard and Poor's 500 sank 16.32 points, or 0.29 percent, to 5,618.26. The Nasdaq Composite Index shed 54.76 points, or 0.31 percent, to 17,573.3.

Nine of the 11 primary Standard and Poor's 500 sectors ended in red, with utilities and technology leading the laggards by losing 0.77 percent and 0.51 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, energy and communication services led the gainers by rising 0.25 percent and 0.02 percent, respectively.

The U.S. Fed cut interest rates by 50 basis points on Wednesday, bringing the benchmark rate to a range of 4.75 percent to 5 percent, the first rate cut in four years.

In its policy statement, the Fed said that the decision reflected "greater confidence that inflation is moving sustainably towards two percent" and that the central bank "judges that the risks to achieving its employment and inflation goals are roughly in balance."

Following the cut on Wednesday, U.S. stocks experienced volatile trading, swinging between gains and losses throughout the session.

US stocks close lower on Wednesday following Fed rate cut