By Yan Yuewen
The entire world remembers the history of the world's anti- Fascist war and the ChinesePeople's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.
But some important questions about the war must be clearly answered. Who launched theaggression at the beginning? What dark motivations led them to start the war? How didallied nations unite in the strength of justice and how much did they sacrifice to fight forfreedom of humanity? The history of World War II (WWII), including its achievementsand lessons, should be remembered by all nations. Legally binding internationaldocuments signed during and after the war, postwar trials of war criminals as well ashistorical research conducted over the past 70 years compose an undisputable foundationof the world's shared memory.
At present, some Japanese politicians have brazenly attempted to distort WWII history,intending to relieve Japan of responsibility. The world should be alert to these provocativeremarks and acts.
History cannot be reversed. Justice will speak itself. However, we must maintain vigilantagainst any actions that would seek to distort historical verdicts and deny the fruits ofvictory.
According to a recent survey conducted by Japan's leading newspaper The YomiuriShimbun, only 5 percent of the surveyed Japanese citizens said that they are "fully awareof" the Japan-provoked aggression and the Pacific War. Around 44 percent of therespondents said that they "know a little" about the war. And another 49 percent of therespondents answered that they are uninformed about the history. The survey also showedthat education and school textbooks are the main ways for students to learn the truth ofpast warfare.
History should not be recklessly tampered with. Such acts are anathema to internationallaw and justice. The postwar arrangement clearly confirmed Japan's responsibility foraggression in WWII, and Japan admitted it unconditionally.
The Cairo Declaration, jointly released by the United States, China and Britain onDecember 1, 1943, stated, "The Three Great Allies are fighting this war to restrain andpunish the aggression of Japan."
The Potsdam Declaration (or the Proclamation Defining Terms for Japanese Surrender),jointly released on July 26, 1945 by the United States, China and Britain with the SovietUnion joining later, stated that Japan shall enforce the Cairo Declaration, and alsodeclared the elimination "for all time of the authority and influence of those who havedeceived and misled the people of Japan into embarking on world conquest." Thedeclaration went on, saying, "We do not intend that the Japanese shall be enslaved as arace or destroyed as a nation, but stern justice shall be meted out to all war criminals,including those who have visited cruelties upon our prisoners."
Japan accepted the terms of the Potsdam Declaration in the Imperial Rescript on theTermination of the War issued by Japanese Emperor Hirohito on August 15, 1945 and theJapanese Instrument of Surrender signed by Japanese delegates aboard the United StatesNavy battleship USS Missouri on September 2 of the same year.
Admitting its historical aggression and reflecting on the responsibility for war is aprecondition for Japan to reconcile with its Asian neighboring countries that sufferedunder its military campaigns in WWII.
The China-Japan Joint Statement issued on September 29, 1972 stated, "The Japaneseside is keenly conscious of the responsibility for the serious damage that Japan caused inthe past to the Chinese people through war, and deeply reproaches itself."
The China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship signed on August 12, 1978 confirmedthat the 1972 Joint Statement "constitutes the basis of the relations of peace andfriendship between the two countries and that the principles enunciated in the JointStatement should be strictly observed."
The China-Japan Joint Declaration released on November 26, 1998, stated, "Both sidesbelieve that squarely facing the past and correctly understanding history are the importantfoundation for further developing relations between China and Japan. The Japanese sideobserves the 1972 Joint Statement between the government of the People's Republic ofChina and the government of Japan and the August 15, 1995 Statement by former PrimeMinister Tomiichi Murayama. The Japanese side is keenly conscious of the responsibilityfor the serious distress and damage that Japan caused to the Chinese people through itsaggression against China during a certain period in the past and expressed deep remorsefor this."
In a joint statement on advancing strategic and mutually beneficial relations in acomprehensive way, signed on May 7, 2008, China and Japan announced that the twosides resolved to face history squarely, advance toward the future, and endeavor withpersistence to create a new era of a "mutually beneficial relationship based on commonstrategic interests" between Japan and China.
From the perspective of either international system or bilateral relations, admittingaggression in the past and reflecting on the responsibility for the war is what Japan mustdo. On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the victory of the world's anti-Fascist warand the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, if Japaneseleader denies the history of aggression in his commemoration statement, it will jeopardizecurrent international order and severely harm China-Japan relations. As well, it will havea bad influence on Japan's development and its status in the international community.
Any retrograde step should not be taken on understanding history. If Japan acts willfullyand unscrupulously on the historical issue for shortsighted intention, it will swallow thebitter pill at last.
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