The Chinese Embassy in Manila, led by Ambassador Jing Quan, held a memorial ceremony on Dec. 13, 2025, to mark China’s National Memorial Day for Nanjing Massacre victims.
The event paid tribute to Chinese diplomats killed by Japanese forces in 1942, including Consul General Yang Guang Sheng, and honored the Filipino Chinese Anti-Japanese Guerrilla Force, known as Hua Chi.
Embassy staff presented a wreath and observed a silent tribute at the Philippine Chinese Martyrs Monument of the Anti-Japanese War. Among the attendees was 90-year-old Hua Chi veteran Lv Shui Ya, accompanied by family members.
In January 1942, following the Japanese occupation of Manila, Japanese invaders demanded that Consul General Yang Guang Sheng convince the Filipino Chinese community to pledge loyalty to Japan. Yang and the other Chinese diplomats firmly rejected this demand. They were subsequently tortured and executed by Japanese troops in April 1942.
Hua Chi, established in 1942 and inspired by the tactics of the Chinese Red Army, fought over 260 battles against the Japanese until 1945. More than 70 Filipino Chinese fighters died liberating the Philippines.
In August 2025, China’s State Council included the Philippine Chinese Martyrs Monument of the Anti-Japanese War in the fourth batch of national-level Anti-Japanese War memorial facilities and sites, recognizing the historical importance of these sacrifices.
Michael Wong Ho
