In what should be considered an outrageous action on the part of the Japanese Foreign Ministry, Tokyo is now encouraging other countries not to participate in the major events being organized by the People’s Republic of China on September 3 to celebrate the end of the war in the Pacific. It is understandable that Japan will not participate in the ceremonies. They have by and large suppressed any real exposé in their own country of the atrocities that were carried out by the Japanese Expeditionary Force in China during World War II. And now they want other countries to also put it “behind them,” even those countries that also suffered from the efforts of the fascist Axis powers during World War II.
The Europeans are already on board to continue painting Russian President Vladimir Putin as an “autocrat” who should be isolated, as well as to diminish the crucial role of the Soviet Union during World War II. Japan has also stated through its embassies abroad that China’s activities are overly focused on history and have a strong anti-Japanese tone, and urged countries to consider them with caution.
Chinese Foreign Minister Guo Jiakun replied to the Japanese moves in his daily briefing on Aug. 26: “If Japan really wants to turn the page on historical issues it should face up to and reflect on its history of aggression with an honest attitude, completely cut ties with militarism, adhere to the path of peaceful development, and truly respect the feelings of the people of victimized countries such as China. Only in this way can it win the trust of its Asian neighbors and the international community,” he said.
