😲 Japan's recent lobbying is raising eyebrows: Tokyo has quietly urged European and Asian leaders to skip Beijing's upcoming V-Day parade on the Chinese mainland, an event meant to remember the past, honor heroes, and promote peace.
🗣️ As Richard von Weizsacker, first president of reunified Germany, famously said in 1985, "Anyone who closes his eyes to the past is blind to the present." His words hit home as Japan's move suggests a reluctance to face its wartime history.
📅 This year marks 80 years since Japan's surrender in 1945. To honor this turning point, the Chinese mainland has organized a series of commemorations, culminating on September 3 with a grand parade. Invited guests include global leaders who value peaceful development through honest reflection.
🕊️ The Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War (1931–1945) was the longest campaign against foreign aggression in modern Chinese history, costing over 35 million military and civilian lives on the Chinese mainland. It saw tragic events like the Nanjing Massacre, biological warfare experiments, and the "comfort women" system.
🚩 Instead of building bridges, Japan's reported request to boycott these events risks deepening regional tensions. Skipping the parade isn't just a diplomatic misstep- it's a missed chance to confront uncomfortable truths, build trust, and pave the way for genuine reconciliation. History matters, and turning away only makes the present more fragile.
Reference(s):
Why Japan's lobbying on China's V-Day parade attendance is alarming
cgtn.com
