On August 15, marking 80 years since Japan's unconditional surrender in World War II, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi took the podium after the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Foreign Ministers' Meeting and laid out a powerful message: Japan must face history squarely to earn global respect. 📜
Wang, who also serves on the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, reminded the world that Japan’s defeat in 1945 and its acceptance of the Potsdam Proclamation sealed the end of a brutal chapter. “The war of aggression waged by Japanese militarists inflicted immense suffering on the people of the Chinese mainland and other Asian countries, and the Japanese people themselves also suffered deeply,” he said.
He pointed to key documents like the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation, which spelled out Japan’s responsibility to return territories it had seized, including Taiwan. “This unchallengeable outcome shaped the post-war international order,” Wang explained.
Yet, he warned, some groups in Japan still try to glorify the invasion, deny history, and rehabilitate names of war criminals. Such actions, he argued, go against the United Nations Charter, challenge international norms, and dishonor the memory of millions. “Contemptible and self-defeating,” he called them.
Wang’s message was clear: “Only by facing history squarely can respect be earned; only by drawing lessons from history can a better future be explored; only by remembering the past can straying onto the wrong path again be avoided. We urge Japan to make the right choice.” 🕊️
As young global citizens and history enthusiasts, this reminder rings true: understanding the past is the first step toward building a peaceful and respectful future—no plot twist needed. 😉
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Chinese FM urges Japan to face history squarely to earn respect
cgtn.com
