Snubbing parade embarrasses Tokyo itself

Source:Global Times Published: 2015-8-30 23:58:01

China's military parade to mark its victory over Japan and commemorate the 70th anniversary of the victory of WWII will be held on Thursday. However, Japan has chosen to snub this commemoration. Last week, Japanese media revealed that no Japanese diplomats would attend the parade. Over the weekend, Tokyo expressed dissatisfaction with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's decision to attend the parade in Beijing, saying the UN should take a neutral position on commemorative events. Ban Ki-moon defended his planned trip by saying that "China's contribution and sacrifice during the Second World War is very much recognized."

Today's Japan is not what it was 70 years ago. Although the Chinese government reiterated that the parade does not target today's Japan, the Abe government still felt a heavy blow.

Shouldn't China have the right to hold a military parade as a commemoration? Such events have been held across Europe, why not in East Asia? Do we have to get approval from the current Japanese government because then-militarist Japan waged war across Asia?

Even if the Japanese government is concerned about the event, it should behave in a self-constrained way. It believes the parade is aimed at it, while leaders and envoys from 49 countries will come to attend the ceremony, as well as the heads of 10 international organizations, such as Ban Ki-moon. The Japanese government is obviously embarrassing itself.

The Chinese government has not adopted a stern attitude toward the reckless words and deeds of the Abe government. Beijing should continue to focus its attention on the parade and on how to promote international unity. The more China stays at ease, the more distinction there is between China's tolerance and Japan's pettiness.

Japan took a moral adventure in criticizing Ban Ki-moon's participation in the parade. It even used its "significant financial contribution to the UN" as leverage, which is an abasement. Can money buy justice? Tokyo seems to be nursing a grievance for not being able to do so.

China has adopted a calm attitude toward the absence of some Western leaders. But such regret is not at the center of the entire celebrations. However, Japan is busy hiding itself from this grand event.

As officials of more countries speak positively about China's parade, the world's attitude toward the celebrations is becoming unified. The world is accepting the parade as a part of the anti-fascist commemorations across the world. Japan's absence can be accepted, but if it promotes its "moral correctness" or even blames those who will attend the parade, this is an immoral misstep.

Posted in: Editorial

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