Tokyo, Manila choose isolation as others come together to celebrate WWII victory

By Zhou Yongsheng Source:Global Times Published: 2015-8-27 21:03:31

The Chinese foreign ministry has confirmed that 49 countries will attend China's upcoming parade to commemorate the 70th anniversary of victory in the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression (1937-45) and the end of WWII. Among the 51 countries invited, Japan and the Philippines are the only two countries who declined to come.

Tokyo and Manila will be frustrated and disappointed to see Western countries such as Poland and the Czech Republic attend China's V-Day parade. The participating countries have realized the importance of participating in this anniversary and strengthening ties with China. Even though Japan and the Philippines will not oppose their attendance publicly, their diplomatic policies toward these countries are likely to undergo subtle changes in the long term.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's wrong view of history is to blame for Tokyo's absence from the celebrations. From the bottom of his heart, Abe does not regard the war against Asian neighbors as aggression. In his statement to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of the WWII released on August 14, Abe stated that "The Japan-Russia War gave encouragement to many people under colonial rule from Asia to Africa." The speech reflects an absolutely wrong view of history by Abe.

It should be stressed that the Japan-Russia War was fought over rival ambitions in the Liaodong Peninsula and the Korean Peninsula. Expanding colonial interests in the region was the underlying motive for the war.

However, Abe perceived this unjust war as Japan's efforts in fighting against colonization in Asia, which "gave encouragement" to colonized Asian and African nations. In Abe's view, European countries initiated the colonization in the region and Japan, instead of being another colonial power, "liberated" Asia from European colonization. This perception of history is absolutely wrong.

While Abe declines to acknowledge the aggression against China, he, taking the potential reactions from the international community and the feelings of the victim nations into consideration, didn't fully utter his true thoughts publicly. And thus, he has refused to attend China's military parade, which shows his true view of history. The absence also means that Abe is unwilling to acknowledge the victory that China, together with other anti-fascist allies, gained through arduous efforts.

The Philippines should attend the parade to celebrate the surrender of Japan with China, since the nation was also a victim of Japan's aggression. However, it refused to come due to territorial disputes in the South China Sea. In addition, Manila, by declining the invitation, is hoping to court Tokyo in exchange for more economic and military support. Anyway, the absence shows that the Philippines lacks awareness of the overall situation.

Some Western countries are concerned that China is using the parade as a chance to flex its military muscles against Japan. It is a misperception.

Chinese officials have already made clear that "the commemoration is not targeted at any particular country, not today's Japan and much less the vast Japanese people," and that the parade is to "remember history, cherish the martyrs, treasure peace and open up the future." It is wrong to perceive the celebrations as a diplomatic battle against Japan.

China has been striving to build a new type of major power relationship characterized by equal cooperation, inclusiveness, mutual benefit and future-orientation.

The author is a professor with the Institute of International Relations under the China Foreign Affairs University. opinion@globaltimes.com.cn



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