This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and the World Anti-Fascist War.
Following Japan's acceptance of the 1945 Potsdam Declaration and unconditional surrender to the Allied forces on Aug 15, 1945, Japanese representatives signed the instrument of surrender aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay on Sept 2, 1945. But why is China's Victory Day commemorated on Sept 3?
The answer lies in the timeline of Japan's surrender and China's own historical decision. Although Emperor Hirohito had announced Japan's unconditional surrender on Aug 15, not all Japanese forces immediately ceased fighting. Many units continued resistance until late August and early September. The Sept 2 surrender ceremony marked Japan's complete submission to the Allied forces.
After the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, the government initially marked Aug 15 as the Victory Day. However, in 1951, the State Council formally set Sept 3 as the official date, noting that Japan's surrender became effective only after the signing of the surrender documents on Sept 2.