politics

Chinese film on WWII summit lambasted online for distorting history

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@ loggediin

In conclusion, i'll say the Japanese have a bit of a complex, but i don't think it's a superiority complex

Nice quote. I wished that I had said that.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

To respond to an above post of mis-indentifying a persons origins...

The issue of Asian versus White country of origin ( great-great grandpa's birthplace) should be dead and buried...seriously. BUT, westerners (whites) basically have no knowledge or interest when it comes to asians. We (whites) all look the same to them anyway, right? We basically don't mix much and don't know much about the other...I do love and respect the Chinese and the Japanese ( by extention thru various contacts over the years)

There are more than 50 ethnicities in China. Yet i admit to believing the majority of CHinese in Canada are Han Chinese. Is this an ignorant thing to believe? Did someone somewhere look at me and think "he looks Polish".? It is all based on assumption, and it is not until somebody tells/explains/reveals it to us that we can know...

My highschool girlfriend pointed out the building where her grandfather was born...which means she could pass by regularly the very door that her GREAT-grandparents abided! Now that is cool ( i thought so at the time) And those great-grandparents emigrated from China...

Another girlfriend of mine- much later- was a child of Mao...anything beyond romance was seriously dangerous waters. Maaaaan, believe me!!! Beloved chairman mao this, and twisted western media that...lazy, self-centered Canadians this and that, Whoa man, whoa! Goodbye Chinadoll...i mean red squadron leader (actually it was my highschool sweetheart that was my chinadoll ( as i was her white prince...))

In conclusion, i'll say the Japanese have a bit of a complex, but i don't think it's a superiority complex

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Thanks, man. I have no idea why it's getting so many down-votes. Other than that on this site, any time I say anything remotely positive toward any aspect of China, it gets loads of down-votes.

Just China bashing swinging into high gear, nothing to be concerned about. It's them, not you.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

LogicAUG. 18, 2015 - 06:12PM JST @katsu78 A great, underrated post.

Thanks, man. I have no idea why it's getting so many down-votes. Other than that on this site, any time I say anything remotely positive toward any aspect of China, it gets loads of down-votes.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

It's not a matter of "allowing", it's a matter of how long will it be allowed to stick.

It's true though, China has a huge army of internet players, most of them are actually at home in China rather than on sites such as these and the Wikipedia.

May be they just want to identify dissidents in advance by allowing them some freedom?

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Saketown, if you think they are just criticizing and not bashing China then I am OK with that. It doesn’t make any sense, if the Chinese government made the film why would they let people mockingly edit the actor playing Mao? Even the Global Times which is the mouth piece of the government has criticized the film, so in another word they are criticizing themselves, is that possible? They even let people on the social media criticizing the film “made by the government”, isn’t that freedom? According to you social media in China are screened and carefully filtered so how come they let people mocking Mao, doesn’t make any sense does it? You mentioned about blocking Facebook, Twitter, YouTube & Google, but have you thought up the reasons why? Maybe it’s more for commercial reasons than anything else, China just wants to protect its own industry which it has built. And don’t think even a minute that the Western media is not censored or controlled otherwise Snowden would not be able to make a name for himself.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

@flowers

The reason people are criticizing (not bashing) China is not because the Communist Chinese Army made a film based on a True Historical Event (The Cairo Declaration) where they removed a key person - Chiang Kai-Shek of The Republic of China and replaced him with Mao Zedong - The Theocratic Communist Leader and Founder of The Communist Party in China.

It wasn't cute nor funny nor comical in any way and its not like they replaced him with Jackie Chan or Bruce Lee either (that would've been funny) No - they replaced Chiang Kai-Shek with a Dark & Very "Real Evil" world adversary - Mao Zedong - A Man who annihilated Chiang's 30 Million Repuplic Chinese by famine and starvation and he executed all wealthy Chinese just to make sure nobody would raise a resistance against him while he ascended to power.

BTW: The Social Media in Mao's Communist China is screened and carefully filtered and they also block Facebook, Twitter, YouTube & Google. So where's the freedom?

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

An editorial in the Chinese-language edition on Monday of the newspaper, which has close ties to the Communist Party, called the use of Mao to promote the film “inappropriate”.

Hey, people. The film is obvious not sanctioned by the Chinese government so why do we have people bashing China? Movie is movie, do we believe everything shown in the movie? Do you believe people flying around fighting with swords? One thing is clear though people in China seem to have more freedom on the social media.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Surely the opposite is true. But, while the point of who fought the Japanese may be debatable

No, that's just it: after the invasion settled down into the occupation, the Communists fought the Japanese, and Chiang did not. Chiang hoarded his weapons and men for the final showdown he knew was coming once the US defeated Japan.

See Tuckman: Stillwell and the American Experience in China. See Johnson, Peasant Nationalism and Communist Power. See New Perspectives on the of the Chinese Communist Revolution, by Saich, et, al.

For this reason, the Communists were battle-hardened and popular to a degree with the peasantry. For this reason, the Communists won the civil war.

None of this makes Mao a good leader, or the Communists good rulers. Or the current gobledegook coming from the CCP any less transparently stupid.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

@Ossan: China signed the Treaty of Friendship with Japan in 1972 the Japanese view of Chinese was nothing but favorable. That ended in 2010 when China decided to ignore that treaty...........

Hahaha.... So Japan betrayed Taiwan ROC to normalize relationship with China? how you think about Japanese action for this?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

The Communist Chinese will say that "Chairman Mao" walked on water if they think they could get away with it.

Seriously, wait until next month when they have their "Victory Over Japan Day" - they'll say something like: VICTORY OVER JAPAN featuring "Chairman Mao" who single handedly fought the Japanese in The a Pacific, forced a surrender and brought an end to WW2 - THEN the Americans dropped the bombes on Horoshima & Nagasaki just to catch up with "Chairman Mao" in order to "Save Face" and say THEY ended the War when it was actually our "Chairman Mao".

If they think they could get away with something like that, then I guarantee you they'd try it.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Trolling, surely!?!

Wassup NYC! Trolling? Not really. China became the world's 2nd largest economy and re-focusing international community's eyeson Beijing- not Tokyo.

Military? China is actively pinging their towed arrays all over the pacific. Meanwhile, Suga & Abe bicker about base relocation efforts. Common japanese do not support the security bills. Heh- heh . . . . guess they'll depend on the USA forever. Alarming-

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

wc626Aug. 18, 2015 - 11:15PM JST @Nicholas. Good point. Growing up in So. CA, I had (have) many asian friends from about 1/2 dozen countries. For the >most part, they got along well. But for some reason, the "I'M JAPANESE!!" (don't insult me by mistaking me as Chinese) >attitude, was all too common among my japanese friends.

New flash. All Asians, Koreans, Vietnamese, Phlilipinos, Thai in the US HATE being asked if they are "Chinese". It's hardly just the Japanese.Most of that is probably bcause to non-Asian Americans all Asians look "Chinese. Has nothing to do with superiority.

This attitude is worse here in Japan. Why? Cause china is the new military global power & economic powerhouse >which surpassed Japan? Probably so-

Wrong. It existed in pre-war and during WWII. Became a dead issue after that and after China signed the Treaty of Friendship with Japan in 1972 the Japanese view of Chinese was nothing but favorable. That ended in 2010 when China decided to ignore that treaty, attempt to steak the Senkakus, and adopt an anti-Japan policy and propaganda war.

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

Perfect examples of the Alternative Reality Knowns as PRC

Black Sabbath

To be fair to Mao and the commies, they did, unlike Chiange, actually fight the Japanese...

Wc626

Why? Cause china is the new military global power & economic powerhouse

Trolling, surely!?!

The C-Gov is making a complete fool of itself.

Apparently Putin is the only foreign leader going to show for the big military parade in Tiananmen Square. Soon it's only buddy will be that chump in N Korea.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

@Nicholas. Good point. Growing up in So. CA, I had (have) many asian friends from about 1/2 dozen countries. For the most part, they got along well. But for some reason, the "I'M JAPANESE!!" (don't insult me by mistaking me as Chinese) attitude, was all too common among my japanese friends.

This attitude is worse here in Japan. Why? Cause china is the new military global power & economic powerhouse which surpassed Japan? Probably so-

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

China, the most populous nation on the planet, wants to be taken seriously but above is reason number 1694 that it just isn't going to happen.

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StrangerlandAug. 18, 2015 - 09:41PM JST "For business" Plenty of Chinese living in the US for business.

And plenty more as immigrants, naturalized citizens, permanent residents. Stop being obtuse as you know very well Chinese have been immigrating to the US since the mid 1800s. There is no equivalent immigration flow in the other direction.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

I wonder........... was there ever a time when the Japanese and Chinese got on together rather than each thinking they were superior to the other?

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For business

Plenty of Chinese living in the US for business.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

The appalling way the British working class role in WW2 cinema was marginalized, Millions Like Us (1943), In Which We Serve (1942), false propaganda or social realism, fostering the 'we are all in it together' attitude?. It was not until the 50s 60s that films depicted 'real-life' working-class heroes.

I won't pretend I did not have a good giggle at the parodies. I am inclined to believe British WW2 propaganda was more successful because it was subtle.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

StrangerlandAug. 18, 2015 - 08:44PM JST "No it doesn't because Americans in general don't leave the US to go live in a totalitarian dictatorship." Plenty of Americans living in China.

For business,. Not because there is more freedom in China than the US. There's never been and likely never will be an emigration wave from the US to China, unless there's a drastic change in their government and air quality. Let's not be obtuse about this.

chubbychubAug. 18, 2015 - 07:49PM JST Wow. all the china bashers coming out of the woods, that speak volume, as if Japan are not known for REVISING >WW2 HISTORY.

After this article I don't know how anyone can listen to China whining about Japan's "revisionism" and "not facing up to history" without cracking up.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

No it doesn't because Americans in general don't leave the US to go live in a totalitarian dictatorship.

Plenty of Americans living in China.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

StrangerlandAug. 18, 2015 - 09:14AM JST "I know many Chinese who are very happy not to live in China. That says something." I know many Americans who are happy to not live in America. Does that say the same thing?

No it doesn't because Americans in general don't leave the US to go live in a totalitarian dictatorship. Whereas getting out of China has been ongoing since the CCP came to power.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Newsflash! So is the Abe government.

This isn't about Japan, but China. The clue's in the headline.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Wow. all the china bashers coming out of the woods, that speak volume, as if Japan are not known for REVISING WW2 HISTORY.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Chiang Kai-shek Translates to Cash My Check.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

@katsu78

A great, underrated post.

The Chinese trying to glorify and change their past isn't anything new, but it's citizens calling the government out on it isn't something that is reported often here.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Chinese are great at faking things - phones and other electronic things mostly... and now history.

Newsflash! So is the Abe government.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Chinese are great at faking things - phones and other electronic things mostly... and now history.

Next they'll be claiming that they invented time, nuclear power, and that Australia is really an ancient Chinese island called 有弹性的动物土地 (land of the bouncy animals).

1 ( +6 / -5 )

I wish I could think of even a single instance of Japanese government historical revisionism that provoked the same response its citizens.

http://www.japan-press.co.jp/2006/2498/diet5.html

This guy, Shii, represents the political views of about 7 million Japanese citizens. And I think Chinese netizens have a little more to complain about their government than their Japanese counterparts.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

To be fair to Mao and the commies, they did, unlike Chiange, actually fight the Japanese...

No they didn't. I refer you to: "Mao, the untold story", by Jung Chang, and this link: http://thediplomat.com/2014/09/the-ccp-didnt-fight-imperial-japan-the-kmt-did/ The CCP was very passive against Japan most of the time, so I agree with criticism of this film

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Has the movie actually come out already? Are we responding to nothing more than a commentary about a trailer and a movie poster?

It may very well be that there is much to scorn in the upcoming movie, but perhaps it is too soon to come to that conclusion?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

To be fair to Mao and the commies, they did, unlike Chiange, actually fight the Japanese

They also murdered and starved to death millions of their own people but we don't hear you crowing about that in your anti-Japanese rhetoric, do we?

3 ( +6 / -3 )

The task for Communists around the world is to oppose Fascism through struggle

The Chinese Communists domesticated and perfected it.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Mao actually did thank to Japan guests, they visited Beijing in 70's, that Japan invaded China so Commie got chance to defeated war worn out KMT soldiers to take over China! When JP chief commander Yasuji Okamura was requested by Chiang to surrender, he said I can only represent Japan Army to surrender to KMT government for losing the war, but Japan Air force and Navy can't surrender to you because they were not dedeated in China! On the other hand, Yasuji Okamura refused to surrender to Commie because Commie didn't defeat them! This is real history!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

HEADLINE: Chinese government distorts history

-Tells us nothing new or noteworthy.

HEADLINE: Chinese government attempt at historical revision mocked by Chinese netizens

-That's huge. But it doesn't fit with western media portrayals of Chinese people as a giant monolithic block of brainwashed fanatics of the state, so I don't expect this aspect of the narrative to get much play.

There's something I admire about these Chinese netizens' snark. I wish I could think of even a single instance of Japanese government historical revisionism that provoked the same response its citizens. I suppose Abe's ham-fisted attempts to "explain" his Article 9 revisionism comes close, but that's modern policy and not history.

-7 ( +2 / -9 )

KMT fought the Japanese. NOT the corrupt communist.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

To be fair to Mao and the commies, they did, unlike Chiange, actually fight the Japanese...

You have that exactly backwards. Mao has even been quoted as thanking the Japanese (tongue in cheek) for helping him take power by weakening the nationalist forces.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

They cut the interview of Mao by budding journalist Brian Williams, it was a hummdinger. http://picturesdotnews.com/2014/12/15/world-leaders-as-hipsters-by-amit-shimoni/

1 ( +1 / -0 )

“The task for Communists around the world is to oppose Fascism through struggle”

Then Mao's lips fell off. Typical Chicom horse manure

0 ( +4 / -4 )

The Chinese propaganda is as good as the cheap, shoddy trinkets they produce (and the greedy West buy).

2 ( +4 / -2 )

No surprise at all. China is the "master" of falsifying history. The Communists forgot that the KMT was in the forefront during the fight in WW II. Mao was quoted to have said that the Japanese invasion of China gave the opportunity for the Commies to consolidate their power and defeat the KMT forces, after WW II ended. The only way for the 80 million China Communist Party members to control 1.3 billion Chinese population is thru' deceit, unreasonable censorship of the media (social network), and thumb down their own citizens' descent. More lies or coloured Chinese "history" can be seen re: South China Sea & East China Sea (Sengkaku Islands). The antagonism against the Japanese people with TV documentary repeats of WW II began in 2000. This is aimed at conditioning and encouraging their younger generation to hate Japan. Real Sad as the Communists Leader & his cohorts will in time face the music by their own people - They can fool people some of the time, but NEVER all the time.

10 ( +12 / -2 )

@MarkG"China and the USSR always tend to embellish"

The USSR supported weak countries abused by the USA around the world.

-5 ( +3 / -8 )

I'm starting to think the Chinese govt watching this forum saw all my posts blasting China for harping on WWII Japan when PRC didn't even exist till 3 years after the war ended,

6 ( +9 / -3 )

Sadly people in China will continue to have a distorted view of history, thinking that Japan is the only country in history to create an overseas empire at the expense of its neighbors, thinking that China defeated Japan while America cowered, and so on.

6 ( +10 / -4 )

And Mao visited Washington to see president Nixon, 1972

3 ( +4 / -1 )

To be fair to Mao and the commies, they did, unlike Chiange, actually fight the Japanese...

Surely the opposite is true.

But, while the point of who fought the Japanese may be debatable, placing at a conference someone who was not there at all, that is audacious in the extreme. Why not go the whole way and have Mao on the USS Missouri accepting the Japanese surrender, or marching into Berlin for that matter? Good grief.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

The parodies

https://www.hongkongfp.com/2015/08/17/cairo-declaration-film-posters-inspire-ridicule-online-amid-allegations-of-rewriting-history/

1 ( +2 / -1 )

@Black Sabath

Did they?? really?

3 ( +4 / -1 )

A-holes!

0 ( +4 / -4 )

I know many Chinese who are very happy not to live in China. That says something.

I know many Americans who are happy to not live in America. Does that say the same thing?

3 ( +7 / -4 )

WHAT?! Chinese officials distorting history to present the Party™ in a more flattering light? Sweet Petunia, say it ain't so!!

And here I was thinking the Chinese government was all about daisies and lollipops.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

To be fair to Mao and the commies, they did, unlike Chiange, actually fight the Japanese...

-12 ( +4 / -16 )

So at least a few Chinese have an idea of what really happened. Let's hope a majority won't fall for this blatant revision of history.

9 ( +10 / -1 )

China and the USSR always tend to embellish or delete whichever suits their image. Just like those Olympic judges when scoring athletes, always a favorable edge.

Let them think they are wonderful. I know many Chinese who are very happy not to live in China. That says something.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

rotflMAO!!!!

5 ( +8 / -3 )

The Cairo Declaration—an upcoming war film produced by a company affiliated with China’s military—is part of a host of government-directed events to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Japan’s surrender.

And did the real Mao Tse Tung perhaps lip-sync for a more beautiful version of himself?

1 ( +2 / -1 )

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