The remains of the Imperial Japanese Army's Unit 731, a biological and chemical warfare research and development unit during the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. (Photo : Xinhua)
China's State Administration of Cultural Heritage (SACH), an administrative agency subordinate to the country's Ministry of Culture, pledged to the Chinese people that they will expand preservation efforts on war sites, China Daily reported on Monday.
Li Xiaojie, SACH director, explained that it is important to preserve the war sites, especially the ones related to the Anti-Japanese Aggression War, as it speaks of China's first triumph from outside forces.
The eight-year War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression which started in 1937 was China's honorary battle against Japan's militarist assault, a move opposed by the Japanese people.
It was also considered as the turning point in the modern history of China.
The places of war are important to the Chinese people, as they are labeled as China's historical sites.
This year marks the 70th anniversary of China's victory over Japanese aggression.
The SACH director revealed that the percentage of the "basically well-preserved" historical sites related to the war against the Japanese were only 42 percent, adding that 45 percent were "partially damaged" and 6.5 percent were "severely damaged."
Currently, only half of China's war-related historical places are open because of restrictions related to resources and property rights, Li explained.
He further said that the other half of the sites are now controlled by various cultural heritage administrations, and about 40 percent are occupied by the state as an office building.
In 2014, China started renovating 47 of its historic sites, including the Imperial Japanese Army's Unit 731, a biological and chemical warfare research and development unit located in Pingfang District of Harbin. The site was used by the Japanese Imperial Army during the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression.
The government's spending on renovations would reach approximately 400 million yuan ($64 million) this year, China Daily reported.
By the end of August, the renovation of all the 113 historical sites handled by SACH will be completed, and Li vows that they will be opened to all foreign and local guests.
