Watching the film "Dead to Rights," which has topped China's summer box office, leaves no dry eyes among Chinese audiences.

It tells the story of a group of Chinese civilians during the 1937 Nanjing Massacre who risk their lives to protect photographic evidence of the atrocities perpetrated by Japanese troops during World War II to expose the truth to the outside world.

With a focus on Chinese victims' sufferings, the movie also highlights the small but courageous acts of ordinary Chinese who choose to fight for dignity and truth, even in the face of death.

The film's ranking as the most-watched worldwide last weekend demonstrates that the Chinese filmmakers' deep reflection on history, humanity, and justice delivers a message that transcends national borders.

But let one thing be clear: Commemorating one of the darkest chapters of Chinese history and the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War is not about fostering hatred.

On the contrary, by promoting a correct historical perspective on World War II, a film on this topic serves as a powerful warning to the world to cherish peace, oppose war crimes, and forge a global consensus on safeguarding history and truth.

The truth is China was the first country in the world to stand up against fascist aggression. This resistance began with the September 18th Incident in 1931, which marked the very start of Chinese people's fight against Japanese aggression.

Then in 1937, the Lugou Bridge Incident, in suburban Beijing, ignited China's whole-nation resistance war against Japanese aggression and established the country as the main Eastern battlefield of WWII.

China's battlefield was also the longest-lasting front against global fascism. Through immense sacrifice, it played a decisive role in defeating Japanese aggressors, providing crucial strategic support to Allied operations and fostering international anti-fascist coalition building.

Yet for the past 80 years, the West has largely overlooked China's crucial role, a neglect often attributed to the Cold War and its legacy. They know the horror of the Holocaust, but far fewer are aware of the Nanjing Massacre and the inhumane bacteriological warfare and live human experiments carried out by Japanese aggressors in China.

Denied proper acknowledgment, China's status as a "forgotten ally" of WWII represents a profound historical injustice that demands correction.

Now, with its international release, "Dead to Rights" is set to honor China's vital sacrifices and contributions and promote a message of peace by ensuring the history is not forgotten.