It claims all the credit for wartime defeat of Japanese
Beijing has been accused of distorting history in its plans for second world war commemorations by focusing on the Communist Party's role in the defeat of the Japanese.
The directive, which was released on Saturday, sets out the central leadership's plans to mark the end of the war, as well as instructions for activities by lower-level governments.
Apart from requiring all war memorials and war exhibition halls to be opened to the public free, it lays down the theme for the commemoration.
'[We need to] widely conduct propaganda education on the historical experience of our victory against the Japanese,' the directive says, 'and forcefully publicise the fact that the victory was achieved under the banner of the anti-Japanese united front advocated by the Communist Party, with the participation of people of all races, all democratic groups and anti-Japan groups, as well as people from all walks of life in China, Hong Kong and Macau as well as overseas Chinese.'
All commemorative events must emphasise the party's role as 'the pillar of the nation's united resistance in the war'.
A select group of 'patriotic' people from overseas, anti-Japan war heroes or their relatives, and foreigners who contributed to the war would be invited to attend commemorative events, it said.
