Is the Rising Sun Flag offensive? To peace-loving people in countries that suffered from Japanese military imperialism, the answer is absolutely yes.

On Saturday, when a young man hiked up Mount Taishan in East China's Shandong Province wearing a T-shirt with a Rising Sun Flag and Japanese characters for the Japanese navy, he was hustled and his T-shirt ripped off by an angry crowd.

The incident went viral online over the past few days, dividing public opinion. A majority of the public criticized the young man's ignorance of history, while others argued that removing the T-shirt infringed the rights of the person and was a display of China's "narrow-minded nationalism."

The Rising Sun Flag is the ensign used by the imperial Japanese military until the end of WWII. It served as the emblem of Japan's atrocities against humanity during wartime, and could stir up feelings among Asian countries that suffered during WWII to the same degree as a Nazi flag does in Europe.

In Europe, public display related to Nazi war crimes, including the Swastika and Nazi salute, is taboo. The Union of European Football Associations, European football's administrative body, fined the German Football Association in 2012 over chants German fans made during a game against Denmark which could have had Nazi connotations.

In view of atrocities committed by Japanese invaders in China, it's understandable that most Chinese people could be easily scandalized by a display of Japanese military symbols. Back in 2001, fans lashed out at famous Chinese movie star Vicki Zhao after she posed for a magazine photo in an outfit emblazoned with Japan's military flag.

She finally apologized for her "ignorance of Chinese history" amid intensive public pressure.

It's a pity that some young Chinese people, who should object to the use of the military emblem, fail to realize the extent of Japanese war crimes committed under this banner.

It's open to debate whether violently ripping off the young man's T-shirt is appropriate or not. As Japan is attempting to whitewash its war crimes, China should enhance history education for all the people, especially youngsters. Strengthening a sense of being against the Japanese Rising Sun Flag is a good starting point.