Fight against fascism honored

To mark the 80th anniversary of victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War (1931-45), China awarded medals to those who rendered outstanding wartime service to their country and to humanity's fight against fascism. One of the award recipients was Chinese diplomat and rescuer Dr Ho Feng Shan.

Posted to Vienna, Austria, Dr Ho fought fiercely on the diplomatic front for Austrian support after Japan launched a full scale invasion of China in July 1937.

He spoke before the Austrian parliament and published a book in German titled China Defends Herself.

The following year, with the Anschluss — or the union of Austria and Germany — in March 1938, Dr Ho issued lifesaving Shanghai visas to Jewish refugees, saving thousands from certain death at the hands of the Nazis and providing some 18,000 Jews with a refuge of last resort in Shanghai, China.

On Dec 31, 2025, the last day of the anniversary year, Consul General of China in San Francisco Zhang Jianmin presented the Commemorative Medal for the 80th Anniversary of the Victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression to Ho Manli, who received it on behalf of her late father.