China Admonishes Japan to Choose Wisely
China has once again expressed its disapproval of Japan's handling of World War II anniversaries, particularly regarding visits to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine. The Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, made this announcement at a press conference held after his meeting with foreign ministers from Mekong River states.
The Yasukuni Shrine, a site in Japan that honours Japan's war dead, including convicted war criminals, is seen as an attempt to glorify Japan's invasion and distort history by China. Wang Yi condemned any such actions as attempts to whitewash or glorify Japan's militaristic past and wartime aggression against China.
This year, on the 80th anniversary of Japan's surrender on September 3, China marked the occasion with a large military parade and other events emphasizing the "victory of the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression" and the "World Anti-Fascist War." In contrast, Japan commemorates the war's end more quietly on August 15, with solemn ceremonies remembering victims but without extensive military displays.
The Yasukuni Shrine visits by cabinet ministers of the administration of Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and others, made on the same day as the 80th anniversary of Japan's surrender, were met with strong criticism from China. Liu Jinsong, director-general of the Chinese ministry's Department of Asian Affairs, protested against these visits by Japanese officials.
Wang Yi stated that Japan was required to return territories including Taiwan to China, according to the Potsdam Declaration. He urged Japan to make the right choice and adhere to international documents that clearly defined Japan's responsibility for the war. The Chinese Foreign Minister also emphasised that such actions were a challenge to the postwar international order.
This dispute over history and memory remains a significant source of diplomatic tension between the two countries, affecting efforts toward bilateral reconciliation and stable relations. The ongoing visits to the Yasukuni Shrine by Japanese officials continue to fuel divergent commemorative practices and ongoing diplomatic friction between China and Japan.
- The ongoing visits by Japanese officials to the Yasukuni Shrine, a historical site honoring war dead including convicted war criminals, are frequently criticized by China for glorifying Japan's militaristic past and wartime aggression, especially during significant anniversary events like the 80th anniversary of Japan's surrender.
- In response to Japan's handling of World War II anniversaries and continued visits to the Yasukuni Shrine, China's Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, has emphasized that Japan must adhere to international documents defining its responsibility for the war, including returning territories like Taiwan, as stipulated in the Potsdam Declaration, to foster stable relations and promote a reconciliatory approach between the two nations.
