politics

Abe should learn from Germany: Xinhua

33 Comments

Chinese state media kept up the heat on Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on the first day of 2014, urging him to learn from Germany in dealing with divisive historical issues.

"Abe's conspicuous lack of historical honesty contrasts shamefully with the courage and vision of late West German Chancellor Willy Brandt," the official Xinhua news agency said in a commentary Wednesday.

It highlighted Brandt's 1970 visit to a monument in Poland to victims of the 1943 Warsaw Ghetto Uprising -- a revolt by Jews against deportations to Nazi death camps that was brutally crushed by German troops -- when he famously fell to his knees.

What Brandt did was a "spontaneous act of genuine repentance", Xinhua added.

"He said no words, but his silent apology spoke a lot: Germany repents its history, is willing to make up for the past, and stands ready to earn the international trust it needs to move on."

China has intensified criticism of Abe since December 26 when he visited Tokyo's controversial Yasukuni Shrine. It honors several high-level officials executed for war crimes after World War II, and serves as a reminder of Japan's 20th century aggression against China and other Asian nations.

On Monday Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang said Abe "himself closes a door of dialogue with Chinese leaders" and is "not welcome" by the Chinese people.

One Wednesday, one of Abe's cabinet ministers paid his own visit to the shrine. Yoshitaka Shindo said he was renewing a wish for peace.

Separately, the Beijing News on Wednesday ran photos of Brandt kneeling in Warsaw and current Chancellor Angela Merkel standing before a wreath with her head bowed during a visit to the site of the Dachau concentration camp in August.

The photos accompanied short articles on reactions -- including by the German government -- to Abe's shrine visit.

"The sincere remorse and in-depth reflection of Brandt and other German leaders paved the way for their nation to be accepted by the international community," Xinhua said. "The moment Brandt knelt down, his nation stood up."

China regularly takes Japan to task over historical interpretations of the war and calls on it to learn "correct" lessons from history.

According to estimates by Chinese government researchers, China lost 20.6 million people directly from the war.

Abe came to power just over a year ago vowing to rejuvenate Japan's long moribund economy and amend its war-renouncing constitution.

His views on history -- he has previously questioned the definition of "invade" in relation to Japan's military adventurism last century -- have raised fears over the direction he wants to take the country.

After his visit to the shrine, he attempted to limit criticism, telling reporters it was not intended to hurt Chinese or South Koreans and should be seen as a pledge that Japan would not go to war again.

© (c) 2014 AFP

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

33 Comments
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China should learn from Japan how to move on.

Even though US never had apologized for those 2 bombs which killed a great number of civilians, Japan decided to focus on her own people and nation by investing on her education, infrastructure, etc...

If we want to do the thing that John Lennon wanted, we should more than anything else preach peace, love and friendship without any hypocrisy.

Instead of focusing on hatred teachings toward some nation, why don't China focus on improving her human rights, making efforts to improving relations with Japan, Vietnam, The Philippines, and others, and improving her human and social condition?

In Japan you will not see such anti-Chinese education. Chinese are treated even better than their homeland with high pay, healthy insurances, etc... Plus, they can enjoy freedom, more opportunities, and better human condition. I really don't understand why some Chinese hate Japan despite of these benefits that they get in Japan. If they dont like Japan, so why don't they go back to China? Anyway, happy new year for everyone, and God bless Japan and every nation that want peace and love!

4 ( +8 / -4 )

China has pretty much ensured Japan will never listen to Germany with this statement. There is no better way to make the Japanese not do something than telling them they have to do it. They will happily cut open their belly to spite their body.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

A German Shepard nuzzles the belly of the Chinese Tiger coaxing from it a satisfied purr. For a brief moment, at least, there is peace.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

The usual whitewashing continues, now the stale comparisons with Germany.

Here is a news link from 2001:

http://english.people.com.cn/200110/08/eng20011008_81757.html

Then Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi visited China in 2001. Koizumi visited the Marco Polo Bridge (the site which commemorates the start of Chinese resistance against Japanese military presence) as well as the Memorial Hall of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.

At the memorial hall, Koizumi placed a flower wreath, bowed, and had a moment of silence to honor the Chinese victims of Japan's war machine. Koizumi was also given a tour of the memorial hall, as the curator explained the history of the war as well as Japanese atrocities.

Koizumi was not the first Prime Minister to visit the hall, but the first to lay a wreath. He also stated Japan will face up to its actions and never wage war again.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Abe did the right thing. This has embolden our weak PM Lee to speak against the visit. Vietnam too has spoken as well as Germany. The US expressed regrets and China And S Korea condemned the visits. Japan will spend $20 billion in SEA for nothing and all the goodwill earned in the Philippines is coming to nought as educated Filipinos condemn Japanese war aggressions. Bruneiians laugh at the Japanese and let's wait for official reactions of Laotians, Cambodians, Malaysians, Indonesians and Myanmar government! Go Abe go and sink the titanic Japan! Wait I forgot the Japanese who are against his visit! Sorry.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

Don;t criticize Chinese State owned media. They have been too busy to study out-of-dated Marxism because they were ordered to study Marxism. No wonder Russia has been flattering Japan for quite a while.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Abe's head has always been immersed in shit and can not look further than the walls of the toilet bowl. Waste of time even talking to him. Just flush him down the tubes into the sewerage pit.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Huh, this tactic shows more brain cells firing than I gave the commies credit for.

The Japanese do indeed care about their image in Europe. So making unflattering comparisons between Japan and Germany is a smart move by the CCP.

What the commies fail to understand is that not one single person in the free world takes seriously anything published by the "official Xinhua news agency". We wouldn't even use that rag as kennel liner.

Except I guess according to Asian2013 the "weak PM" of taiwan takes it seriously ... but then, Taiwan isn't really the free world anyway, is it?

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Except I guess according to Asian2013 the "weak PM" of taiwan takes it seriously ... but then, Taiwan isn't really the free world anyway, is it?

Since when did Taiwan have a PM? They have a President (Ma) and VP (Wu). Look further west, my friend.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I think he is referring to Singapore.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

China should learn from their own sad history and not keep repeating mistakes - not only those of that Mao clown, but also the countless incompetent leaders before. It is time for the Chinese people to rise up after years under hopeless regimes.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

One thing should be clear. It's not a matter of communist party, but a core interest of a country. Imagine if china is democratic, the conflict might be much more serious, even a war lunched because US would not be Japan's side, likely Japan would be punished by China, and the punishment will be hailed by other asian neighbors and most nations in the world.**

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Germany is so proud of their reconciliation efforts but it is hypocritical.

The only chancellor who really tried to make up with thier neighbors was Willy Brand from the then left wing SPD.

All the right wing CDU chancellors were more concerned about their own Nazi-soldiers than about what happened to the rest of Europe.

Nothing to be proud of here. It's just that Germans like to be proud of themselves.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Why can't China just learn or imitate Germany and become a free ,democratic country then?

4 ( +4 / -0 )

hidingout No, Japanese don't care about their image in Europe, or any other place. Japan is an island country, and not interested in outside really.

-6 ( +0 / -6 )

A country needed somethings to be proud of and that the whole world would agreed. What Japan had that the world would never disagreed is its habitual denial and grolifying of its war history! Proud indeed! No wonder now they disrespect what Germany did, on what that they can never do!

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Abe has been visiting SE Asian countries to promote economic growth of that area. Too busy that he forgot he had stomach problems. Well, Japan Inc has been busy, too. Maybe purpose of these are to make these countries to be Japan's big customers. USA was too late. Obama and USA have been trying to get cooperation of USA economic and technology assistance to these countries but these countries have been snubbing. These countries live on today, not in 1940;s. Maybe China can imitate German. Then it can promote China to SE Asian countries. Way after Japan finished to work with these countries. don;t forget everybody who work for this media in China are too busy studying out-of-dated Marxism.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

After 70 years it's now too late for Japan to do that. The new generations of Japanese would not understand nor approve such gestures. If it had been done 70 years ago, it would've been at no cost politically or economically. Then Japan would've had a normal army from the start. It wouldn't have to try to change that now and be seen in a negative light.

It's an American conspiracy all along!

70 years is long enough for secrecy protection law, and would've be made public by now. CIA's covert overthrow of Iranian democracy was published after only 40 years. This Japan conspiracy's utility is much longer than that, and must remain in secret, may be until 50 years after WW3.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

“But in general, all nations must honestly live up to their role in the horrible events of the 20th century. Only on the basis of this honest accounting is it possible to build a future with former foes...."

"all nations" may also include china

0 ( +0 / -0 )

How can you compare? Japan and Germany situation after the war was completely different. Compared to Japan, which was occupied by only U.S., Germany was divided into four occupation zones governed by the USA, USSR, France and England. Hundreds of thousands were uprooted, died, starved, murdered by rampaging troops. There were close to 400,000 Soviet troops were stationed in East Germany, to insure internal security, support for the East German Communists Partyand to keep East Germans from uprising. If you live there, you couldn't say anything.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@sfjp330 Actually there was also a large BCOF force in Japan until the early 50's.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

China should also learn from Gerrmany. To start with, it could end the occupation of Tibet, acknowledge Taiwan`s right to exist, stop its continuing aggression against India, and hand back the islands it stole from Vietnam. How is that for a start, China?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

China should also learn from Gerrmany. To start with, it could end the occupation of Tibet, acknowledge Taiwan`s right to exist, stop its continuing aggression against India, and hand back the islands it stole from Vietnam. How is that for a start, China?

That's a pretty good start. To follow up on that they could do some soul searching and come clean about how Mao was the biggest mass murderer in history - putting even Stalin and Hitler to shame on that score. And then they could think about actually letting the people have a say in how they are governed. What's the chance of any of that happening?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

@WIIIIB- occupation of Tibet? Dalai Lamas in Tibet have always been selected or recognized by the China to represent China, including the current Dalai. The only difference is that this Dalai ran away. Today, Taiwan exists very happily with China and have very useful trade agreements and pacts. Cross straits talks go on everyday! Who is denying Taiwan's right to exist? You? Continuing aggression with India? Relations now can't be better and there are frequent joint military exercise, including anti-terrorists exercise! Read the latest condemnation by Vietnam on the visit to Yasukuni by Abe!

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

China should also learn from Gerrmany. To start with, it could end the occupation of Tibet, acknowledge Taiwan`s right to exist, stop its continuing aggression against India, and hand back the islands it stole from Vietnam. How is that for a start, China?

It's true, China has an atrocious record on these points. They are most definitely not speaking from the higher ground. But that all said, it doesn't make their comments regarding Japan wrong.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

@tinawatanabe hidingout No, Japanese don't care about their image in Europe, or any other place. Japan is an island country, and not interested in outside really. lol funniest BS ive heard in a while, dont care about there image outside Japan, LOL then Japan doesnt care if people shun it made in Japan products. without a good image Japan wont sell stuff all. just look at what happened in China last year.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

wtfjapan I agree with you. J companies should leave China.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

china should shut its trap, how about we talk about tibet, they have huge issues to deal with, they are the last people who should even open their mouth

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Im not on chinas side but they are a democracy " hint president" hint " not totalitarian"

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

China should learn from Germany and see what happens when you incite violence in masses of people for personal gain.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Explain the ADIZ then, Chinese scholars and news outlets. Was that an action of peace as well?

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

“The sincere remorse and in-depth reflection of Brandt and other German leaders paved the way for their nation to be accepted by the international community,” Xinhua said. “The moment Brandt knelt down, his nation stood up.”

Propaganda 101 hard at work in Communist China.

So how many times has Japan apologized for what they did during the war? Let's check the fact counting machine....

Over 50 times......Wow, Bob thank you so much. Next, how much money has Japan repaid and handed out in the form of ODA payments?

Let's start with the Comfort women's fund, over $14,000.000 were paid out from 1993 until 2005, but that wasn't enough.

Transfer of Japanese assets keep in mind that this is 1945 worth not today. Korea $5bn, Taiwan $3Bn, China $16Bn, others $2Bn.

Occupied nations 41-45 $2 Bn

Repayments

Korea 180 billion yen, Philippines 288 Billion yen, $58 billion US, China, well that was a difficult one because after the War the PRC wasn't even a nation.

But Japan did provide the PRC ODA aid, just to give you an idea in 1990 Japan provided $830 Bn in assistance. But that is just a drop in the bucket.

Japan has repaid for their crimes, but it's neighbors want more more and much much more.

Now what about China and Korea, when will they be held accountable for their crimes?

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

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