On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, the special exhibition Justice Without Borders: Comrades in the Flames of War—International Friends in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) recently opened at the Shenyang WWII Allied Prisoners Camp Site Museum. The exhibition features 20 representative international friends and showcases nearly 200 precious historical materials and artifacts, reviewing the extraordinary years when these international comrades fought side by side with the Chinese people against Japanese aggression.

This exhibition is divided into four thematic sections: “Armed with Pens”, “Healers Without Borders”, “Alliance for Justice”, and “Light of Humanity”, offering a panoramic view of the international friends’ selfless dedication to the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.

In the “Armed with Pens” section, historical materials of journalists and writers such as Edgar Snow, Agnes Smedley, and Anna Louise Strong are particularly striking. They broke through blockades to enter the anti-Japanese base areas, using words and lenses to document the unyielding resistance of Chinese soldiers and civilians, making China’s righteous call for resistance clearly heard around the world.

“Healers Without Borders” highlights the remarkable contributions of international medical pioneers such as Henry Norman Bethune, Kwarkanath S. Kotnis, and Shafick George Hatem. They renounced comfortable lives, established frontline hospitals and trained medical staff under extreme conditions. Some of them even sacrificed their own lives. Through their expertise and devotion, they embodied the healer’s compassion and stood firm in the shared belief in anti-fascism.

“Alliance for Justice” showcases the heroic contributions of international allies such as Grigori Akimovich Kulishenko, Claire Lee Chennault, and Zheng Lyucheng. Whether engaging enemy aircraft in aerial combat, commanding allied forces in fierce battles, or boosting morale through music, their actions embodied the spirit that “Justice transcends national borders”.

“Light of Humanity” documents the rescue efforts of John Rabe, Bernhard Arp Sindberg, John Gillespie Magee, and others. Rabe and other foreign nationals established the Nanjing Safety Zone to shelter over 250,000 Chinese refugees. Sindberg set up a refugee camp at the Jiangnan Cement Factory and documented Japanese atrocities. Magee risked his life to film the Nanjing Massacre. Their fearless dedication protected civilians and kindled hope amid the darkness of war.

During the monumental Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, international friends journeyed from afar to lend crucial support. Their profound contributions will be engraved in the memory of the Chinese people forever. This exhibition also looks toward the future to build a global community with a shared future, letting peace and development shine on all mankind.