Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has visited the German city of Potsdam, where the Potsdam Proclamation was issued in July, 1945 by representatives from the United States, the UK and China. The document outlined the terms of Japan's surrender during world war two. Li's visit sought to highlight China's new leadership's respect of history.
A reminder of the past. And a history that cannot be denied.
"Any attempts to deny or glorify the wartime aggression during those years are nothing but a challenge to international justice. It will not be tolerated by the Chinese people and will be condemned by people all over the world," Li Keqiang said.
On July 26th, 1945, the city of Potsdam, sitting just 24 kilometers from Berlin, was witness to a memorable moment of world history.
It is here that the Potsdam Proclamation calling for the surrender of Japan during World War Two was signed. The Proclamation stated that if Japan didn't surrender, it would face "prompt and utter destruction".
The historic document many would say still resonates today.
"What I want to emphasize is that the Proclamation also reiterated the principles of the Cairo Declaration that is Japan must return all occupied territories to China, including parts of China's Northeast territory, Taiwan, and other islands," Li said.
Although the Potsdam Proclamation did not mention anything about using atomic weapons against Japan, atomic bombs were dropped on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki the 6th and 9th of August, 1945 respectively. Japan surrendered unconditionally soon after.
Premier Li Keqiang noted that peace and post-war order was achieved at the price of tens of millions of lives. And that these must be safeguarded at all times, so that such a heavy price doesn't have to be paid again.
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