They wanted this to be a loud reminder: of the ferocity of the war and the sacrifices the nation made; of the country's role, as what Oxford University scholar Rana Mitter has called the "forgotten ally" in the world's war against fascism; of the contributions of foreign friends and allies; and, more importantly, of the country's commitment to peace and its capability to preserve it.

The presence of representatives of the American Volunteer Group, known as the "Flying Tigers", as well as the air squadron from the then Soviet Union, and relatives of such outstanding foreign nationals as Norman Bethune, was symbolic of Chinese gratitude to all who lent a helping hand when the nation was in danger.

To many in the Chinese audience, at home and abroad, this was the real highlight of the commemorations, the unprecedented show of homage to the heroes and heroines in that nation-saving brutal war. The cheers and tears as the phalanx of war veterans led the victory parade effectively made this parade more special and complete than previous ones.

The fact that veterans of both the Communist Party of China and Kuomintang forces were officially represented, and stood shoulder to shoulder, at the commemoration was a historical, and historic, first that hinted at an evolving approach to the two parties' shared past.

Despite diverging narratives of that period in the country's history, they share a historical obligation to work for ultimate reconciliation at home and to heal the wounds of the civil war.

In a broader context, as was evident in the diplomatic wrangling before the commemorations, the road toward reconciliation remains long and tortuous in East Asia.

In an impressive joint overture on Wednesday, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and President Park Geun-hye of the Republic of Korea expressed common interest in seeking cooperation with Japan. That was a precious gesture of the two victim countries' magnanimity considering the insincerity of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's recent speech about the war.

That message also tests Abe's claim that he wants to improve relations with Japan's two neighbors, because an insurmountable obstacle to reconciliation is his administration's attitude toward WWII.