Some 100 Chinese cities are poised to sound alarms and sirens simultaneously to commemorate the September 18 Incident, the beginning of Japanese troops' invasion of China.
The city of Shenyang has organized a choral singing event and a ceremonial tolling of the bell near the September 18 History Museum.
The bell will toll 14 times at 9:18 PM on Sunday, representing the 14 years that people in northeast China suffered under Japanese oppression.
Some 1000 people, including veterans, soldiers, governmental officials, college students and businessmen from Taiwan, are expected to participate in the memorial events.
People joining a petition for peace
Meanwhile, about 100 cities around China will simultaneously sound alarms and sirens for three minutes to commemorate the anniversary.
This initiative was first proposed in September 1995 to the Shenyang Municipal Committee and Shenyang government by Mr. He Songqing, 83, a local resident who survived the invasion.
Alarms were sounded in 1995 to call on people not to forget history. Other cities soon followed suit.
The Japanese Guandong Army stationed in northeast China suddenly bombarded Shenyang under the excuse of explosions occurred along the South Manchuria Railway on September 18, 1931.
In January 1932, all the three provinces in northeast China were occupied by the Japanese army.
(CRI/Agencies September 18, 2005)
