July 7 marks the 78th anniversary of the outbreak of the Lugouqiao Incident and the beginning of China's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.
Speaking of China's relevant commemorative activities marking the 70th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said at a press conference that placing too much emphasis on this war as "against Japanese aggression" and internationalizing the history issues is not conducive to regional peace and stability.
However, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson commented that relevant remarks from Japan are unintelligible.
This is not the first time that Yoshihide Suga says such unintelligible words, which represent the Japanese government.
On July 7 last year, Yoshihide Suga had similar answers in response to China's commemorative activities marking the anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.
While after one year, the Japanese government didn't change anything. Not only that, by accusing of China, Japan avoided substantive issues by mentioning Japan's path of peace recognized by the international community after the war.
"Is it conducive to regional peace and stability when Japan constantly evades and shuns history issues and even downplays and whitewashes its aggression history? ", asked Hua Chunying, the Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, at the regular press conference on July 8, 2015, directing at the wrong words and deeds of Japan regarding historical issues.
First, Japan's cognitive issues of history are the main cause of the difficult China-Japan relations.
Since the 1980s, most of the twists and turns of the China-Japan relations are caused by wrong remarks of historic issues from the Japanese side. It is always Japan that brings difficulties to the bilateral ties. For example, the open visit of the Yasukuni Shrine and the revision of history textbooks.
It is the Japanese right-wing forces and their political representatives and supporters that have avoided Japan's responsibility in the war of aggression, denied or even beautified the history of aggression, continued to use the wrong words and deeds to hurt the Chinese people, undermined international trust and caused regional tensions.
Second, Japan's efforts to distort and discredit China's commemorative activities are futile.
China, together with the rest of the international community, holds commemorative activities marking the 70th anniversary of the end of the World Anti-Fascist War and the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, in a bid to "remember history, honor the martyrs, cherish peace and create a better future".
Commemorative activities of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War in Russia, the United States, France and the United Nations all reflect the same theme of maintaining peace and stability. China's relevant commemorative activities are not intended to use history to beat or press Japan. However, China and the international community must stay vigilant against Japan's wrong historical view.
Third, Japan should honestly face and reflect on history, instead of trampling it.
Japan wanted to enhance the sense of national pride, to become a "normal country" and a respected member of the international community. These hopes are not wrong, but Japan took the wrong way and the wrong method.
Japan chose to deny historical facts, instead of facing it and reflecting on it. Japan chose to run in the opposite direction against historical trend, instead of trying to achieve historical reconciliation with its neighbors.
Japan chose to ignore the right path and abandon China-Japan friendship and cooperation. This will cause obstacles to the China-Japan relations, harm the process of regional integration and hurt the interests of Japan in the end.
"Those who do not review history will be blind to reality, and those who are not willing to reflect on atrocities are likely to repeat them in the future", said former German President Richard von Weizsacker on May 8, 1985 at the 40th Anniversary of the V-E Day.
Such mentality and view of history shall be respected. In terms of historical issues, Germany is a good mirror and in front of Germany, all of Japan's sophistries of history and reality are pale.
Historical issues are also practical. Japan treats history as plasticine but history is not a fancy.
Japan used its distorted view of history as a basis for shaping the reality and naively thought that Japan can treat the reality the way it plays with history. Such actions are just like remaining in ostrich mode.
The international community is commemorating the 70th anniversary of the victory of World War II and Japan should think clearly - how to gain trust from its Asian neighbors and the international community in order to open the door to the future, rather than continuing to be a troublemaker.
