Forged in Blood and Fire: Defending Second World War History Together

Summary

Chinese Ambassador Wang Xiaolong and Russian Ambassador to New Zealand Kolans published a joint signed article, 'Forged in Blood and Fire: Defending Second World War History Together', in the New Zealand Herald on 4 September. The article said the victory of the Allied nations laid the foundation for the founding of the United Nations in 1945 and set off a wave of liberation and decolonisation, but at a heavy cost, with nearly 80% of the world's population drawn into the conflict. As the main theatres in Asia and Europe, China and the Soviet Union suffered deeply from Axis war crimes, with their combined casualties accounting for more than half of total global deaths and civilian losses especially severe.

Citing the Nuremberg and Tokyo trials, the article said Axis war crimes were unprecedented in scale and that the verdicts found them to be part of a colonial plan. It criticised Japan for failing to reflect deeply on its history, noting that some Japanese politicians continue to visit Yasukuni Shrine, which honours Class-A war criminals, and said China and Russia share a mission to defend historical truth and oppose attempts to rewrite the internationally recognised outcomes of the Second World War. The article also noted that a UN General Assembly resolution jointly submitted each year by China, Russia and 43 other countries wins majority support, with 119 countries voting in favour last year, but New Zealand did not stand with the majority.

China and Russia said they are ready to join peace-loving people in all countries to uphold the post-war international order.

Commentary

The joint article by the Chinese and Russian ambassadors uses Second World War history to criticise Japan and singles out New Zealand for not backing a UN resolution – at face value a contest over historical narrative, but in substance a reflection of the diplomatic tension New Zealand faces between its Western alliances and its trade dependence on China. For small and medium-sized business owners, the issue carries no direct tariff implications, but it may shape the political mood around the New Zealand-China trade relationship. About 30 percent of New Zealand's goods exports go to China, with dairy, meat and timber among the primary products heavily reliant on that market, and Fonterra's Greater China revenue accounting for roughly one quarter of its global business.

If New Zealand is seen as 'not with the majority' because of its diplomatic stance, that could raise the risk of non-tariff friction in bilateral trade dialogue – inspection and quarantine requirements, customs delays or shifts in consumer sentiment. Another angle: New Zealand's bilateral trade with Russia is limited, and sanctions after the Russia-Ukraine conflict have already pushed some firms out. But the joint article binds China and Russia together, which may leave some New Zealand exporters uneasy about being drawn into great-power rivalry and about the effect on their brand acceptance in Asian markets.

SMEs should watch for subsequent high-level China-New Zealand engagement and any specific regulatory moves on New Zealand products, and avoid misjudging the market because of political noise. That 119 countries voted in favour last year while New Zealand did not is a gap worth building into export strategy as an indicator of geopolitical risk.

Keywords: Wang Xiaolong, Kolans, joint signed article, New Zealand Herald, Second World War history, Nuremberg trials, Tokyo trials, Yasukuni Shrine, UN General Assembly resolution, shared mission of China and Russia

Source: Embassy of the People's Republic of China in New Zealand – China–New Zealand Relations