A top official warned against moves to revive Japanese militarism as China held its annual national commemoration of the Nanking massacre amid tense ties with Tokyo.

Speaking at a memorial ceremony in the eastern city of Nanjing on Saturday, Shi Taifeng, head of the ruling Communist Party’s organisation department, said that any attempt to revive militarism, challenge the post-war international order or undermine global peace and stability was “doomed to failure”, according to state broadcaster CCTV.

Shi, one of 23 members of the party’s elite Politburo, was the highest-ranking official to attend the 88th anniversary commemoration.

The memorial ceremony took place at the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders.

At 10.01am, air raid sirens sounded across the city, with cars, trains and ships sounding their horns.

Presided over by Minister of Public Security and State Councillor Wang Xiaohong, the ceremony featured the address by Shi, who labelled the “indelible” Nanking massacre a “crime against humanity” and called for “promoting an accurate historical perspective on the second world war”.