The Nobel Prize in Physics 2014 was just awarded jointly to trio Japanese scientists Isamu Akasaki, Hiroshi Amano and Shuji Nakamura "for the invention of efficient blue light-emitting diodes which has enabled bright and energy-saving white light sources." Meanwhile, two Chinese-American hopefuls, Yang Peidong, a professor at the University of California, Berkeley, and Zhang Shoucheng from Stanford University, failed to obtain the laurel.

Before this year's result was revealed, Yang and Zhang were expected to get the award as part of the first generation educated on the Chinese mainland after the country's reform and opening-up. However, the result disappointed many Chinese mainlanders. Some netizens complained that Chinese-American scientists no longer need to contest the Nobel Prize. Others even felt hurt as it was the Japanese rather than the Chinese who eventually got the prize.

Nonetheless, netizens don't have to be so concerned; rather they should be at peace. First, we should not deny the authoritativeness of the Nobel Prize simply because Chinese candidates failed to get the award.

According to the will of the Swedish inventor Alfred Nobel, the prize will be granted to those who make outstanding performances in a certain field regardless of their nationalities, ideological beliefs and religions, and the Swedish and Norwegian governments should have no influence over who is chosen to receive the prize.

Over the past hundred years, Nobel-winning scientists have all made great contributions to mankind, which have been recognized all over the world. Meanwhile, China shouldn't give up the pursuit of Nobel Prize. Many countries including Japan have looked on winning Nobel Prize as a yardstick for their soft power; China should be no exception.

The Nobel Prize is a test of a country's ability to innovate. It requires an open and free research environment and support at the national level. Only when we have a solid economic and scientific foundation, will China be able to win a Nobel Prize in science.

Japanese writer Haruki Murakami has been repeatedly nominated as candidates of the Nobel Prize for Literature, but failed to get the prize. In 2012, Chinese writer Mo Yan took the prize instead, upon which Japanese media congratulated Mo for his win.

We should emulate this generous manner and work hard to win the prize by ourselves, instead of simply blaming others.

The author is chief editor of Japan New-Generation Overseas Chinese Newspaper. opinion@globaltimes.com.cn