Chinese Ambassador highlights shared wartime sacrifice with Barbados at 80th anniversary event

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – Chinese Ambassador to Barbados H.E. Zheng Bingkai addressed a gathering of dignitaries and community leaders yesterday to commemorate the 80th anniversary of China’s victory in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

The symposium, held on September 3rd, brought together prominent figures including Dr. Delisle Worrell, President of the Association for Barbados-China Friendship. 

Staggering War Casualties Revealed

Ambassador Zheng presented sobering statistics from the conflict, revealing that China bore enormous casualties during what he described as “the main battlefield in the East during World War II.” According to the ambassador, China lost more than 35 million lives out of the war’s total 100 million casualties worldwide. The country also sustained direct economic losses exceeding $100 billion USD, with indirect losses surpassing $500 billion.

“The Chinese People’s War of Resistance started the earliest, lasted the longest, tied down the largest number of Japanese forces, and bore the heaviest sacrifices,” Zheng told the audience.

Barbados Connection Honored

In a notable recognition of Barbados’ wartime contribution, Ambassador Zheng paid tribute to the island’s participation in the global anti-fascist effort. He specifically honored Errol Walton Barrow—who would later become Barbados’ first Prime Minister and national hero—and eleven other Barbadians known as “The Second Barbadian Contingent” who enlisted in the Royal Air Force in 1940.

“Six of them laid down their lives for the cause of justice,” the ambassador noted, describing this sacrifice as evidence of “the same steadfast commitment” shared between the Chinese and Barbadian people.

Taiwan Issue Raised

The diplomatic address also touched on contemporary political matters, with Ambassador Zheng linking Taiwan’s status to the postwar international order. He referenced the 1971 UN General Assembly Resolution 2758, stating that challenging the one-China principle “means defying the UN’s authority and undermining the postwar order.”

The Ambassador characterized Taiwan’s return to China as “an integral part of the fruits of the victory of WWII,” citing the Cairo Declaration and Potsdam Proclamation as legally binding documents supporting this position.

Call for Continued Cooperation

Looking forward, Zheng emphasized the role of overseas Chinese communities, Chinese enterprises, and educational exchanges in strengthening bilateral relations. He called for building “a China-Barbados community with a shared future” and urged nations to “unite under the banner of peace and justice.”

The symposium concluded with the ambassador’s appeal for enhanced cooperation, stating that just as nations once “fought shoulder to shoulder against fascism,” they must now advance together through “win-win cooperation.”

The event reflects China’s ongoing diplomatic engagement with Barbados, with the ambassador emphasizing the role of cultural exchanges and bilateral cooperation in strengthening ties between the two nations.