US embassy’s social media post on Hiroshima atomic bombing’s 80th anniversary mocked by Chinese netizens
The US Embassy in China reposting the US State Department's post on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the Hiroshima atomic bombing has been intensively mocked by some Chinese netizens, who pointed out the post seemingly suggests that Japan and the US were on the same side to end the war, rather than what actually happened - the US' dropping of atomic bombs on Japan.
"Eighty years ago on August 6, the US and Japan concluded a devastating war in the Pacific." — This sentence, posted by the US Embassy in China on social media Wednesday — the 80th anniversary of the Hiroshima atomic bombing — has drawn widespread mockery from some Chinese netizens.
"It is a solemn day of reflection and remembrance as we honor the people of Hiroshima and their enduring message of peace and hope," the Embassy's post in Chinese read.
Many netizens called it an "absurd statement," with some describing the US tribute to the people of Hiroshima as a "dark joke from hell."
On August 6 and August 9, 1945, the US dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, respectively, to hasten Japan's surrender in World War II, according to the Xinhua News Agency.
Eighty years ago on August 6, the US and Japan ended a devastating war in the Pacific. Yet for the past eight decades, the US and Japan have stood shoulder to shoulder in safeguarding peace and prosperity in the Pacific region, the US embassy claimed in the post on Weibo.
"Tomorrow marks a solemn day of reflection and remembrance. We pay tribute to the people of Hiroshima and the enduring message of peace and hope," the embassy claimed.
"It's indeed hypocritical. Dare not to say that the US dropped the bomb" one netizen said in the comment section. Many netizens have also left comments criticizing the US statement as hypocritical.
"The war was launched by Japan, Pearl Harbor was attacked by Japan, and Hiroshima was destroyed by the atomic bomb dropped by the US. However, this post seems to express the great friendship between the US and Japan at that time… you are not reflecting on the war," another netizen said.
"Anyone who doesn't know better might think you two fought side by side in the Pacific," another netizen said.
As the US marks the 80th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima, perceptions have become increasingly mixed, the Al Jazeera reported on Wednesday.
A Pew Research Center poll last month indicated that Americans are split almost evenly into three categories: nearly a third of respondents believe the use of the bomb was justified. Another third feels it was not. And the rest are uncertain about deciding either way, the Al Jazeera said.
A number of netizens questioned the embassy's statement describing the US dropping atomic bombs on Japan as the "US-Japan joint ending of the war" completely avoids Japan's responsibility for launching aggressive wars through its militarism.
Historically, Japan was the aggressor in the Pacific War (with the attack on Pearl Harbor), while the US fought as part of the anti-Fascist Allies. The atomic bombings accelerated Japan's surrender, not a "cooperation" between the US and Japan, according to those netizens.
As of press time on Thursday, this topic related to the US embassy's statement is among the top five trending searches on Chinese X-like platform Weibo. And over 5200 messages left on the embassy's post.
"Eighty years ago on August 6, the US and Japan concluded a devastating war in the Pacific." — This sentence, posted by the US Embassy in China on social media Wednesday — the 80th anniversary of the Hiroshima atomic bombing — has drawn widespread mockery from some Chinese netizens.
"It is a solemn day of reflection and remembrance as we honor the people of Hiroshima and their enduring message of peace and hope," the Embassy's post in Chinese read.
Many netizens called it an "absurd statement," with some describing the US tribute to the people of Hiroshima as a "dark joke from hell."
On August 6 and August 9, 1945, the US dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, respectively, to hasten Japan's surrender in World War II, according to the Xinhua News Agency.
Eighty years ago on August 6, the US and Japan ended a devastating war in the Pacific. Yet for the past eight decades, the US and Japan have stood shoulder to shoulder in safeguarding peace and prosperity in the Pacific region, the US embassy claimed in the post on Weibo.
"Tomorrow marks a solemn day of reflection and remembrance. We pay tribute to the people of Hiroshima and the enduring message of peace and hope," the embassy claimed.
"It's indeed hypocritical. Dare not to say that the US dropped the bomb" one netizen said in the comment section. Many netizens have also left comments criticizing the US statement as hypocritical.
"The war was launched by Japan, Pearl Harbor was attacked by Japan, and Hiroshima was destroyed by the atomic bomb dropped by the US. However, this post seems to express the great friendship between the US and Japan at that time… you are not reflecting on the war," another netizen said.
"Anyone who doesn't know better might think you two fought side by side in the Pacific," another netizen said.
As the US marks the 80th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima, perceptions have become increasingly mixed, the Al Jazeera reported on Wednesday.
A Pew Research Center poll last month indicated that Americans are split almost evenly into three categories: nearly a third of respondents believe the use of the bomb was justified. Another third feels it was not. And the rest are uncertain about deciding either way, the Al Jazeera said.
A number of netizens questioned the embassy's statement describing the US dropping atomic bombs on Japan as the "US-Japan joint ending of the war" completely avoids Japan's responsibility for launching aggressive wars through its militarism.
Historically, Japan was the aggressor in the Pacific War (with the attack on Pearl Harbor), while the US fought as part of the anti-Fascist Allies. The atomic bombings accelerated Japan's surrender, not a "cooperation" between the US and Japan, according to those netizens.
As of press time on Thursday, this topic related to the US embassy's statement is among the top five trending searches on Chinese X-like platform Weibo. And over 5200 messages left on the embassy's post.
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