Japanese warship visits China for 1st time in more than 7 years

For a navy ship invited to attend a naval review in another country, flying the host country’s national flag from the bridge is international protocol.

China is a like a St. Bernard and Korea a Chihuahua in terms of the flag.

Korea has been telling its citizens about the flag that it is same as Nazi's. If Koreans feel pain when they see the flag, it's a self-inflicted pain as a result of this long time anti-Japan education and media. (Really it does not make sense when they accept the other flag that was used more prominently in the war.)

Very interesting to see the JMSDF vessel flying the Japanese Naval Ensign at the stern. Clearly China, which was a real victim of Imperial Japan in WWII has no problem with the flag. Unlike South Korea, which was a part of the Japanese Empire and a collaborator in invading China and other Asian nations, gets completely bent out of shape over the flag.

While I take these things with a grain of salt because in an instant things can change, the South Korean government can learn a few things about civility and professionalism from China.

China allowed the JMSDF vesel to fly their ensign in Qingdao as proven by the above photgraph. SK refused to allow the same, resulting in Japan withdrawing from attendance. Korea was never forced at gunpoint to sign the annexation agreement as there were Koreans both in support of against it. And the vast number of Koreans in the J-military were volunteers. No need to keep rehashing Korean revisionism.

The fact that the JMSDF is in Qingdao flying their naval ensign is proof that there was no problem. Otherwise show us a link to a story showing that China had a problem with it.

Japan has consistently addressed it's past wrongs. It's South Korea that refuses to recognize their role and responsibility by whitewashing and revising their history by placing all blame on Japan.

Just think the Japanese Maritime SDF is more welcome in the Peoples Republic of China than the Republic of Korea. South Korea is suppose to be Japans ally.

Any thing that can ease tension between these countries is a good thing. What happened in the past should remain in the past, were in the 21 st century now.

You know you live in a twilight zone episode when China who suffered the most from Japanese aggression is more forgiving and friendly than S. Korea who was willing to help Japan and join hands to fight ww2.

OssanAmericaToday  07:33 am JST

Couldn't agree more. the atrocities from korean (no north and south back then) soldiers atrocities in China and Vietnam (as a puppy of USA) were absolutely appaling.

No one noted Chinese aggression in the south China Sea. Friend, WWII is past tense and the horror that is China is seeping into the world. Beware it and its kind.

BTW, the 9-18 Museum outside of Shenyang, China, is rabidly anti-Japanese.

Zichi, that is perhaps why Japan sent something not too this and not too that...

Just imagine the feeling of being one of those Japanese naval SDF officers on display in

the Qingdao port. Invited to a party, only to find out THEY were on the menu. Hoisting the rising sun flag, but also the Chinese one. Bilateral relations maybe thawing, but I bet the looks on the faces staring each other down tell a different story.

I wonder whether these visiting ships proudly bristle with the latest electronics, trying to pick up information, or, afraid to be assessed by the latest Chinese electronics at close quarters, they maintain silence by turning everything off? Or does all surveillance happen on-line anyway?

Looking forward to good quality photographs of the whole review.

117 is a very interesting number.

Hey! They were friends again! At least for now!

No link necessary, it was in the article:

Beijing gave silent approval to the hoisting of the controversial rising sun flag to avoid a dispute ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping's scheduled visit to Japan in June.

You don't even have to read between the lines or rely on your faulty logic.

Read between what lines? China accepted the rising sun flag being flown without throwing a hissy fit unlike South Korea. How disappointing is it that China outdoes South Korea in international relations...?

Just heard that the Chinese public eagerly packed onto the visiting ships; the two most popular were the Russian and Japanese ships. On the Japanese ship everyone wanted a selfie shot standing in front of the Navy version of the 'rising sun' flag astern.

China allowed the JMSDF vesel to fly their ensign in Qingdao as proven by the above photgraph.

This in no way means that China has no problem with the flag.

Korea was never forced at gunpoint to sign the annexation agreement as there were Koreans both in support of against it. And the vast number of Koreans in the J-military were volunteers. No need to keep rehashing Korean revisionism.

Just a need to constantly push the "Japan did nothing wrong" narrative.

The fact that the JMSDF is in Qingdao flying their naval ensign is proof that there was no problem. Otherwise show us a link to a story showing that China had a problem with it.

No link necessary, it was in the article:

Beijing gave silent approval to the hoisting of the controversial rising sun flag to avoid a dispute ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping's scheduled visit to Japan in June.

You don't even have to read between the lines or rely on your faulty logic.

Japan has consistently addressed it's past wrongs

In words only. After Japan pays lip service to addressing its past wrongs, politicians visit Yasukuni and textbooks that whitewash Japan's past atrocities are published. It's the equivalent of a husband apologiZing to his wife for hitting her and then turning around and saying he never hit her.

Good. Now, if a certain nation would stop whitewashing its history of abusing other Asian nations, we might just see progress in relations.

Clearly China, which was a real victim of Imperial Japan in WWII has no problem with the flag

This is not a logical inference from the article.

Unlike South Korea, which was a part of the Japanese Empire and a collaborator

You're glossing over the fact that Korea was forced at gunpoint to become part of the empire and collaborate with Imperial Japan. I guess those facts aren't convenient for your disparaging narrative against the Koreas.