politics

China hits back at Abe over World War I analogy

63 Comments

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

© 2014 AFP

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

63 Comments
Login to comment

“The Class A war criminals of Japan were like the Nazis. Could you imagine a European leader could today lay a wreath at a memorial to Nazi war criminals? Would the European people accept such a move? No. And it would be illegal besides.”

This statement is hard to argue against. Thankfully there aren't any memorials that added Nazi leaders as a subject of commemoration, but if there were, a European leader paying tributes there would be unthinkable. Sadly, not so in Japan. Not only does it happen time and time again, it apparently helps you win votes.

-1 ( +15 / -16 )

“It strikes me that his statement is a bit anachronistic because the current era is a world apart from the situation of 100 years ago,”

He's right. I would have compared them to the rise of nazi Germany or if you really want to get under their skin, Imperial Japan.

-6 ( +6 / -12 )

99% of the people in Japan don't care about Yasukuni and 99% of the people are not Shintoists. These right-wingers are still stuck in the Imperial Japan era.

-2 ( +10 / -12 )

Jeezus these two just never give up.

Like pre schoolers.

0 ( +5 / -6 )

Mitch Cohen

This statement is hard to argue against.

Interesting statement from someone who's screen name is Jewish.

Actually, it's not. This tendency by Chinese officials to suggest that the Japanese were like the Nazi's smacks just as much of revisionism as anything the Japanese say. I have posted this previously, but for the interests of the argument will do so again:

Justice Pal, who was one of the presiding Judges at the Tokyo War Crimes tribunal stated quite unequivocally that:

'the case presented before us cannot in any way be likened to the case of......Hitler'

Justice Webb, the Australian Judge at the Tokyo trials said:

'the crimes of the German accused (Nuremburg) were far more heinous, varied and extensive than those of the Japanese accused'

Japan did not carry out an organised program of Genocide, plain and simple. Suggesting they did is plain fallacious.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

"China had no choice but to react to the Japanese move," Wang said. "We have offered negotiations but the Japanese refuse to discuss the island because, in their view, they are not in dispute. Let me again make the offer: We should begin to have a bilateral negotiation over the island to establish a crisis management mechanism."

Wang, for the stability of the region, you should take the case to the ICJ which will automatically make the islands disputed instead of declaring that China reserves the right not to comply with the judgement handed down there.

8 ( +10 / -2 )

"China had no choice but to react to the Japanese move," Wang said. "We have offered negotiations but the Japanese refuse to discuss the island because, in their view, they are not in dispute.

What's to discuss? China's use of the "cabbage" strategy to steal islands? There's not one map published between 1949 and 1970 that has any reference to Diaoyu. Even The People's Daily was referring to the Senkaku Islands as being part of the Ryukyu Islands.

The article published on January 8, 1953 titled "Battle of people in the Ryukyu Islands against the U.S. occupation" wrote "The Ryukyu Islands lie scattered on the sea between the Northeast of Taiwan of China and the Southwest of Kyushu, Japan. They consist of 7 groups of islands; the Senkaku Islands, the Sakishima Islands, the Daito Islands, the Okinawa Islands, the Oshima Islands, the Tokara Islands and the Osumi Islands."

But the Senkaku Islands are small potatoes compared to what the Chinese are really after. Why stop with a few islands when you're real plan is to eventually take everything west of the Hawaiian islands.

After all, Admiral Timothy Keating, then US Pacific Commander, recalled in 2009 that a high-ranking Chinese naval officer had once suggested to him that the US and China divide the Pacific Ocean between them, with China responsible for keeping the peace west of Hawaii and the US east of Hawaii.

7 ( +14 / -7 )

Why all the comments about Nazi's?

The National Party (Nationalsozialismus), abbreviated to "Nazi," had nothing to do with WWI.

That was WWII.

It is true, however, that the Nazis were ultranationalist and antidemocratic.

Just like Abe and his "Liberal-Democratic (hah!)" Party.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Well, I kind of agree with the Chinese this time. Abe had no reason to make those statements and he knew very well it was just antagonistic rhetoric. I'd also say that there is very little comparison to the tensions between England and Germany in the pre-WW1 years and the tit-for-tat exchanges going on between japan and china. Abe should read a history book before he goes running his mouth off, but not a Japanese history book.

2 ( +10 / -8 )

Abe's Yasukuni visit and bemusing WW1 analogy has given the Chinese propaganda campaign impetus. Here we have a government with an appalling human rights record and one which continues to venerate the scumbag Mao Zedong being given the ammunition to demonize Japan in the international community by the leader of Japan. Abe needs to stop scoring spectacular own goals which are being televised around the world.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

Not such a stretch of truth, Nazis were organised and focused on eliminating systematically named enemies. Imperial Japanese troops killed, raped and used bestial methods to kill anyone who was not Japanese. At a whim! Why shoot them when it's cheaper to bayonet, burn or rape to death. He has a point, the Japanese troops had no discipline, no control and were encouraged to behave in an animalistic nature to all. There was no organisation no focus just bestial terror and animalistic lust. Neither are to be applauded nor worshiped in any way, 14 CONVICTED Criminals but you can bet there are thousands of other criminals not convicted that are WORSHIPED there.

-4 ( +7 / -11 )

Wang told the annual gathering of business and political leaders.

“The forces for peace in the world, and they include China, are growing.”

Easy to speak but show us what you mean by actions.

Abe has called for talks 3 times that I recall each time rebuked by china so if Wang is serious then take up Abe's offer, stop posturing, stop antagonising your neighbours, stop the military build up, stop the threats, stop the BS and sort it out like diplomats.

Wang words are cheap, actions can be priceless, but the wrong actions are costly specially the ones you threaten with.

6 ( +10 / -4 )

Cricky What are you trying to achieve?

-1 ( +7 / -8 )

A frank and honest look at history and actions.

Can not be honest with others if your not honest with yourself

-3 ( +5 / -8 )

Imperial Japanese troops killed, raped and used bestial methods to kill anyone who was not Japanese.

Sounds more like our merry band of Chinese after they'd made their way onto Japanese soil, circa 1274. Never heard anything resembling an apology from China. But then there's always karma.

6 ( +11 / -5 )

The issue is within a modern living memory context. Complicating it with historical examples of tit for tat will entrench both sides leaving no room for compromise. Loosing face by admitting mistakes gives you the higher ground and more friends.

-7 ( +1 / -8 )

Cricky Japan is frank and honest at history and actions. You guys are always vague.

-3 ( +7 / -9 )

You must believe school history books, unlike the rest the world

-7 ( +1 / -8 )

Soon China is going to have to recalculate the importance of the Senkakus. I think it is starting to cost them much more than they could ever gain from them, unless their is a bigger plan behind of course. Abes moves is making China loose face in the international community.

4 ( +8 / -4 )

Sorry Japan, but you ain't no Britain.

-2 ( +6 / -8 )

Comparison of European leader laying wreath to memorial of Nazis with PM Abe's Yasukuni visit is funny, and totally inaccurate. First , where is that memorial of Nazis? Second, a European leader ,who is it? Third ,Yasukuni is not about 12-14 war criminals. And also there are differences between Japan and European countries as well.

2 ( +6 / -4 )

You must believe school history books, unlike the rest the world

Well see the crazy thing is that in Japanese textbooks there are some mentions about the Manchuria incident, Unit 731, comfort women, etc and how they killed hundreds of thousands of civilians. So these right-wingers probably have never even graduated middle school or passed history class.

2 ( +7 / -5 )

China takes three cards and raises by $500.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

The WWI analogy was only meant to illustrate that close economic ties aren't necessarily enough to deter a conflict from boiling over, how is that anachronistic? Especially considering the current standoff in the East China Sea which most would agree is pretty dangerous, whether the Chinese (or the Japanese for that matter) think of themselves as a force for peace doesn't change a whole lot in this case.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

School textbooks are just test materials to kids. We can study history even after high schools. I don't understand why you guys are so concerned about only textbooks why not all books in bookstores and libraries. Besides, if you complain Japan's textbook, you have to name which publication which page, otherwise too vague. By the way we know your textbooks have serious problems, but we don't say anything.

-1 ( +7 / -8 )

“It strikes me that his statement is a bit anachronistic because the current era is a world apart from the situation of 100 years ago,” Wang told the annual gathering of business and political leaders.

And WW2 ended nearly 70 years ago, so can the Chinese now please shut the eff up about it?

4 ( +8 / -4 )

I prefer the Potter references anyway

1 ( +1 / -0 )

The endless China Yasukuni loop got stale a long time ago. How about thinking up something new, Beijing?

4 ( +7 / -3 )

How about thinking up something new, Beijing?

You mean like a nuclear missile that will blow up the shrine and all its sun god worshippers?

I think Japan is seriously mistaking if they think the clashes with China will be limited to the seas near the disputed islands. If the war breaks out and China starts losing the battles over the disputed islands, leading to loss of face, China will probably not hesitate to start focusing on the Japan mainland itself.

You keep poking the bear with a stick, see what happens.

-11 ( +2 / -13 )

SuperDonQuixoteJan. 25, 2014 - 07:10PM JST The WWI analogy was only meant to illustrate that close economic ties aren't necessarily enough to deter a conflict from boiling over, how is that anachronistic? Especially considering the current standoff in the East China Sea which most would agree is pretty dangerous, whether the Chinese (or the Japanese for that matter) think of themselves as a force for peace doesn't change a whole lot in this case.

You are right. People who criticise Abe's speech this time seem to have not read the whole of it, or just do not have enough ability to understand it correctly. Actually, FT or BBC are not criticising the speech, but just reporting what he stated.

By the way, Cricky, you seem to have seen lots of anti-Japan dramas and films. In your post, Japanese soldiers are like Super-Saiyans.

5 ( +9 / -4 )

*chucky3176JAN. 25, 2014 - 10:00PM JST How about thinking up something new, Beijing?

You mean like a nuclear missile that will blow up the shrine and all its sun god worshippers?

I think Japan is seriously mistaking if they think the clashes with China will be limited to the seas near the disputed islands. If the war breaks out and China starts losing the battles over the disputed islands, leading to loss of face, China will probably not hesitate to start focusing on the Japan mainland itself.

You keep poking the bear with a stick, see what happens.*

Or limited to just Japan and China .... more than likely most of the region would get drawn in, including the US, Australia, New Zealand and possibly India.

Both as long as the loving people of Korea are ok .... who cares.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

And WW2 ended nearly 70 years ago, so can the Chinese now please shut the eff up about it?

Maybe they will when Japanese historical revisionist politicians do.

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

"There was no organisation no focus just bestial terror and animalistic lust. Neither are to be applauded nor worshiped in any way..."

Even a cursory glance at the historical record that Cricky claims to be frank and honest about will show that this is patently untrue. It was precisely because of the organization and discipline of the Japanese Imperial Army that China's efforts to resist invasion were largely ineffective. That and brutal back-biting in a civil war between the Communists and the Nationalists where some 1.2 million troops on both sides died and another nearly 5 million were "culled" by both the Communists and Nationalists in an effort to stamp out grass-root opposition.

The chaos and unfettered opportunism that made being a peasant in China for the first half of the 20th Century a risky proposition at best has never been addressed by Chinese leadership on either side of the Strait. And yet China has the audacity to continue to poke, prod, and harass an already apologetic Japan into doing what? Apologize yet again?

That Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi can say the following, "[Abe's] statement is a bit anachronistic because the current era is a world apart from the situation of 100 years ago," then in virtually the same breath insist that modern Japan -- a Japan that bears virtually no resemblance at all to that of Imperial Japan 100 years ago, politically, socially, or economically -- would be laughable if it weren't so enraging in its duplicitous, disingenuous pettiness.

I'm no fan of Abe's efforts to rehabilitate his grandfather's legacy with ample demonstrations of nationalistic foot-in-mouth disease, but he's the by-product of years of this asinine dance China -- and South Korea -- have been doing for the past three decades, not-so-coincidentally in line with Japan's rise as a world economic power enabled in great part by a pacifist constitution. Chinese foreign policy towards Japan and Party leadership's obvious willingness to allow nationalistic extremism to highjack sounder foreign policy is precisely why infantile fools like Abe continue to climb out of the political woodwork in Japan.

Japanese administration after administration has faced the question of revising Article 9 of Japan's pacifist constitution. And the electorate, otherwise known as the people of Japan, have rejected the idea soundly EVERY SINGLE TIME some nationalist LDP nut pressed the issue, choosing without hesitation peace. This speak volumes for the nature and character of modern Japan, a message that far too many Chinese -- and even supposedly well-informed Westerners -- are all too willing to ignore in their single-minded pursuit of their unicorn, i.e., Japan prostrating itself at the feet of China and South Korea in order to vicariously soothed wounded pride and ego.

I completely understand China has a firmly entrenched tradition of imprisoning or murdering anyone who diverges from official government dogma, and they must be utterly baffled that Abe and his ilk haven't at the barest minimum already been thrown into labor camps for expressing ideas contrary to the nigh-all-encompassing 1993 Hosokawa Statement, but shucks, dissenting opinion, however offensive, is just one of the many risks a free society faces in its efforts to be something better than what it was.

China desperately needs to realize this and stop wallowing in the past.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

You are right. People who criticise Abe's speech this time seem to have not read the whole of it, or just do not have enough ability to understand it correctly. Actually, FT or BBC are not criticising the speech, but just reporting what he stated.

You should read this, BBC is criticizing Abe's speech:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-25847276

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

The more China behaves in a belligerent and uncooperative manner in terms of ensuring that neither intentional nor unintentional conflict occurs, such as refusing communications, the less I give a carp about their Yasukuni whining. People visiting a place that has some dead peoples names written down doesn't hurt anybody anywhere and can't start wars. Hurts your feelings? Grow up and get over it.

-1 ( +5 / -6 )

99% of the people are not Shintoists

Yes they are. Very few Japanese don't visit the shrine at the start of the year, for their children's hundredth day, for their yakudoshi etc. and almost all non-chapel weddings are done at shrines. Most Japanese are shintoists.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

I hope the two countries can stabilish a win win business partnership.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Cricky

Not such a stretch of truth, Nazis were organised and focused on eliminating systematically named enemies. Imperial Japanese troops killed, raped and used bestial methods to kill anyone who was not Japanese. At a whim! Why shoot them when it's cheaper to bayonet, burn or rape to death. He has a point, the Japanese troops had no discipline, no control and were encouraged to behave in an animalistic nature to all. There was no organisation no focus just bestial terror and animalistic lust. Neither are to be applauded nor worshiped in any way, 14 CONVICTED Criminals but you can bet there are thousands of other criminals not convicted that are WORSHIPED there.

Basically, Cricky's comment implies most ordinary Japanese are actually the heirs of millions of War Criminals, convicted or non-convicted, Not just those 14 big bosses. Your emperor is one as well.

Sadly, it is probably true.

If the emperor'd have been hung after WWII, no such dispute about the history would exist right now, like what we are seeing in Europe. So, it is highly doubted Japanese can get over their history as long as the royal family is still in place. And "frank and honest to the history" is an impossible mission for modern Japanese.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

Yes they are. Very few Japanese don't visit the shrine at the start of the year, for their children's hundredth day, for their yakudoshi etc. and almost all non-chapel weddings are done at shrines. Most Japanese are shintoists.

No they're not. Most people couldn't give a crap about Shinto rituals or beliefs. Most people don't believe that people need to be ritually purified like the Shinto originally believed. Most people don't believe in Shinto creationist myth. Most people don't believe that there are millions of different Gods, in fact most are atheists. That's like saying that since most Japanese celebrate Christmas, they must be Christians.

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

It strikes me that his statement is a bit anachronistic because the current era is a world apart from the situation of 100 years ago... The forces for peace in the world, and they include China, are growing.

He would have said: "...and they do not include China". Because from the news we see every day, it is very clear that chinese do not have good intentions.

Wang said Beijing regarded Abe’s December visit to the shrine as the biggest problem in the bilateral relationship

Before the shrine it was the islands, before the islands it was the japanese war crimes.... I think the chinese do not have good arguments.

I know it is difficult because the chinese government controls the media and the internet, but my point of view is that chinese society should do something to go democratic and to stop the chinese government from doing a big mistake.

It is not wise to keep fighting with neighbouring countries. It does not attract good things.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

"conscience of humanity and international justice"

I wonder why I am reminded of Mao's "great leap forward" and then communist "reeducation camps" and after that tanks in Tiananmen (spelling?) everytime a PRC leader says those words...

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Chinese blowhards!

1 ( +2 / -1 )

I dunno about you, but I am soooooo tired of this mud flinging.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Looks like the war already started with words. Now all we are waiting for is to see who is daring enough to throw the first punch.

As far as China ever THINKING about taking over Hawaii well its all a dream they better stop eating those wild mushrooms because it will never happen! If they ever want to step west and get very bold and make that mistake they would have more than a problem with pollution.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

You mean like a nuclear missile that will blow up the shrine and all its sun god worshippers?

Seems pretty close to mocking another person's religion there chucky. I would have thought that was pretty much a taboo, but I guess you are comfortable going there too. Why am I not surprised.

I think Japan is seriously mistaking if they think the clashes with China will be limited to the seas near the disputed islands. If the war breaks out and China starts losing the battles over the disputed islands, leading to loss of face, China will probably not hesitate to start focusing on the Japan mainland itself.

Loss of face? Lmao how much more face could the communists possibly lose? And why does it always come down to "losing face" with the PRC and ROK anyway? Nobody else cares about your face or how much of it is lost. The rest of the world can't walk around constantly worried about someone's face falling off and getting lost. Deal with your pride issues and ancient grudges on the couch of a therapist instead of dragging the rest of us to war.

You keep poking the bear with a stick, see what happens.

Are you making threats on behalf of the communists now chucky?

As for Mr Wang ... well, he delivered a laughable rebuttal to Abe's speech. Nothing but the same old song and dance about Yasukuni. Guy is so dumb he doesn't yet realize that the Japanese will never stop going to Yasukuni. Can't even pick a winnable battle. He should stick to the issue of the Senkakus in order to avoid making himself look like a tool. I guess at least he didn't hold up pictures of dead babies, so that's something.

“It strikes me that his statement is a bit anachronistic because the current era is a world apart from the situation of 100 years ago,” Wang told the annual gathering of business and political leaders.

Oh, I see. So if making comparisons to real world events is "anachronistic", then what would we call making comparisons to the magical world of Harry Potter?

(Wang) said China wanted to “shoulder more international responsibilities” by becoming more active in helping to defuse what he termed “hotspot issues” around the world.

You mean like they "shouldered their responsibility" when they offered their neighbors in the Philippines 100K in aid after the devastating earthquake last year? And is that why the CCP specifically said that they couldn't donate more because "the people" wouldn't "allow" gifting money to a country that had the temerity to stand up for itself when they CCP tried to grab their land. The idea of PRC as a leader or problem solver in the region is a laughable non-starter.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

At this point I don't know and don't care which side has more historical merit to who owns those rocks in the straits. Point is this is not the behavior of the number 2 and number 3 economies. This is more like two spoiled children who are fighting each other, and the repeated WWI/WWII, Imperial era, etc. references obviously trying to make their case to international bodies is like those said children crying to dear Mum asking "who's right" and "he started it!"

What should happen is the Mum should ground both of them until they make honest apologies and stop bickering. In international terms, European and American trade embargoes against both Chinese and Japanese goods would be a nice start. Real wars have started in such a childish manner, and it's about time the mature powers of the world teach both these idiot nations a lesson.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Patrick McCormickJan. 26, 2014 - 01:45AM JST European and American trade embargoes against both Chinese and Japanese goods would be a nice start. Real wars >have started in such a childish manner, and it's about time the mature powers of the world teach both these idiot >nations a lesson.

Please get real. Europe and the US have zero reason to embargo or boycott trade with Japan a democracy and US ally by Treaty and by extension an ally of NATO. Japan is not a dictatorship drunk on nationalism, on a military and territorial expansion program that makes it the biggest threat to peace in Asia, that title is held by China. Japan s not sending planes and ships to a Chinese island for the purpose of changing the status quo; China is doing just that. The only country acting immature is China, and if they weren't so heavily armed and belligerent, they would be funny.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

“It strikes me that his statement is a bit anachronistic because the current era is a world apart from the situation of 100 years ago,” Wang told the annual gathering of business and political leaders.

And the current era is also different from that of 70 years ago..

Wang said Beijing regarded Abe’s December visit to the shrine as the biggest problem in the bilateral relationship, describing it as a memorial that glorifies militarism, justifies past aggressions and honors the 14 military and public officials who were either executed or died in prison after being convicted as Class A war criminals at the end of World War II. “When a Japanese leader lays a wreath at such a shrine, he crosses a line—he is breaching the conscience of humanity and international justice. He is contesting the outcome of the second world war and the international order that emerged from it. “The Class A war criminals of Japan were like the Nazis. Could you imagine a European leader could today lay a wreath at a memorial to Nazi war criminals? Would the European people accept such a move? No. And it would be illegal besides.”

I'd agree with this if Yasukuni Shrine was built to honour the war criminals. However as it isn't I can't see how he can compare the shrine to building something to honour the nazis. Yes the war criminals shouldn't be enshrined there however the average soldier should be remembered. I've been to Belgium and there were grave sites where the bodies of German soldiers were laid to rest. These sites and Yasukuni are in a way the same because they remember the soldiers who died fighting for their country.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

"Japan is the enemy," coughs Wang while fruitlessly waving away a stubborn cloud of pollution that had gathered to block his view of the gawking crowds.

Slow clap for China.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Business is war

0 ( +0 / -0 )

My analogy of China and WWI is simple, China feels it lost out on the colonialist/conquerer era (plus they were run by monarchy back in the day not the bloody PRC that came AFTER WWII), and like the nations of the WWI era felt they deserved to get a piece of the action from that time. So they saddled up and rode of to war to get "their" piece of the pie from colonization.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Kaim, r u thinking with brain when u r talking Hawaii? Most Chinese even don't know where it is. The well-known thing is the attack pearl harbour by Japanese. U r so funny

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

Mitch Cohen

This statement is hard to argue against.

It's very easy to argue against. To suggest Japan were on par with the Nazi's is plain fallacious, disingenuous and shows a poor understanding of history. Some might call it Revisionism. Here is what the judges at the Tokyo War Crimes Tribunal said about that very issue:

Justice Pal, who was one of the presiding Judges at the Tokyo War Crimes tribunal stated quite unequivocally that:

'the case presented before us cannot in any way be likened to the case of......Hitler'

Justice Webb, the Australian Judge at the Tokyo trials said:

'the crimes of the German accused (Nuremburg) were far more heinous, varied and extensive than those of the Japanese accused'

The Japanese did no carry out a program of organised genocide, plain and simple.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

For anyone who is not Chinese i can say this, you wouldn't know how painful and sad it is for another country to invade your own homeland and legit murder everyone, men, women (old or Pregnant), children, new borns, for no reason. Forced to dig our own graves, raped and humiliated in front of your own family, children raped to death, heads sliced off and put and the entrance of the town with messages drawn with the blood of the innocent stating "Japanese Occupancy". It disgusts me to see all these posts from people thinking and assuming that it's ok because it happened 70 years ago. IT'S NOT! Try going up to a Jewish person and say it's alrite that their people were all gassed, murdered and killed, "coz it happened 100 years ago". It's not only the Chinese unfortunately that are pissed off with Abe's latest publicity stunt to gain voters for the upcoming elections sneaking around the corner.

I also find that Japanese Tabloids and news are very fabricated, infact sometimes i feel like the Japanese Government are only telling their own people what they want them to hear. It's sad. That u have to lie in your own text books that educate the children of your future. If you did nothing wrong or bad, why is there the need to hide or lie about anything? Cat caught your tongue?

You complain about human rights in China, yet when a country is willing to even lie about their own Nuclear Disaster and still feed radiation contaminated food/water to their own people and force farmers to continue trade of these contaminated items, i don't know what else Japan can't possibly do? I mean after all Japan did invade multiple countries and massacred alot of innocent people, and your Prime Minister visited a Shrine that praises War Criminals like gods.

It is not China's intention to wipe Japan out or steal any islands, it's taking back what is rightfully theirs. Now correct me if im wrong, but im pretty sure China is not the only country having territorial disputes with Japan now. So cut some slack out for China, Korea and Russia also have territorial disputes with Japan, Again if u look at the history of the Islands the Japanese are "claiming", they didn't even exist in Japanese History and were only first mentioned by Chinese Historians in "Juk Bo's" AGES ago. So sit down Japan. You ain't no Global Super power no more. Not even the US is bold enough to get involved, WW2 strategies ain't gonna work no more. P.S. If u had a proper history lesson you would know where Japanese people Descended from and where they they took their language from and who existed in history first. China.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

Where is the part of PM Abe's speech that should be criticised?

TRANSCRIPT OF ABE'S REMARKS

"What I would call a military encounter between Japan and China would deal great damage to both countries. Its regional and global impact would be extremely large. Both Chinese and Japanese leaders understand that."

"For China, economic growth is an absolute requisite for the Communist Party to govern China, to keep China under control. I believe it is well understood that a military clash with Japan would wipe that requisite away."

"But I believe the important thing is to make sure that no accidental military encounter would take place despite that understanding."

"This year marks the centenary of World War I. Britain and Germany were highly (inter)dependent economically. They were the largest trade partners (to each other), but the war did break out."

"The essential thing is to keep (the situation) under control. I have proposed setting up channels of communication between our armed forces and our trade authorities so as to prevent accidents."

http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/politics/AJ201401240076

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

leon118

It disgusts me to see all these posts from people thinking and assuming that it's ok because it happened 70 years ago. IT'S NOT!

I stand to be corrected, but I doubt you will find ANY posts here suggesting that Japanese atrocities in China were 'OK' on any level. In fact, I don't ever remember seeing one.

But China conducted trials from 1945 to about 1951 for war crimes, and the Tokyo Tribunal executed several top Japanese officials and generals for specifically Chinese related atrocities, such as: Former Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hirota Koki, and the General in charge of the forces who Sacked and Raped Nanking, Matsui Iwane. The Chinese Kuomintang party itself executed 149 people for war crimes in 10 separate trials, and the Communist Party 'reeducated' around 1000 Japanese prisoners after the war, and tried a further 45 for war crimes in 1956.

After this, Japanese officials have apologised to China for wartime atrocities, and have paid China an absolute fortune in reparations.

So let me ask you this question:

How long should Japan be punished for their war crimes?

6 ( +6 / -0 )

What we're seeing today is more 1274 than 1914.

leon118 said: It is not China's intention to wipe Japan out or steal any islands, it's taking back what is rightfully theirs.

China today should be no larger than what it was during the Song Dynasty. If the Chinese truly are sorry for what they did during the Yuan Dynasty, they should give up all claims to lands that were acquired during and after the Yuan Dynasty post haste. This would go a long way to assuring China's neighbors that China isn't continuing the legacy of aggression that began under the Yuan Dynasty.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Tamarama

How long should Japan be punished for their war crimes?"

I'm afraid that this question is out of place. Has Japan really been punished for the war crimes? how? Actually, the problem with Japan is that they don't think they committed " crimes" during the WWII.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

leon118,

"If u had a proper history lesson you would know where Japanese people Descended from and where they they took their language from and who existed in history first. China."

Japanese decended from a diverse mix of migrating Polynesians, Koreans, and fair-skinned caucasians who migrated from northern Russian across land and ice routes that exist. Yes, some Chinese might be in the mix, but archeological records show that people were living on the Japanese archipelago for almost as long as there's been written Chinese history.

Also, you might be interested to know that Japan had a spoken language well and truly separate from Chinese long before Japanese and Chinese traders even began to glance at each other across the sea that separates them. In fact, linguistically speaking, Chinese and Japanese are so structurally different as to put them into two different language families. What you meant to say is that Japan borrowed its kanji writing system from Chinese characters. 100% guilty as charged. However, hiragana and katakana? Those are 100% Japanese inventions, I'm afraid.

As for who existed in history first, without going into painful detail about, again, archeological records, such a claim sounds like something a elementary school child would throw out against an opponent he or she was outmatched by. Not only is it an entirely subjective statement, but it also does little to further the conversation.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

However, hiragana and katakana? Those are 100% Japanese inventions, I'm afraid.

Well actually the hiragana are taken from cursive Chinese writings and the katakanas are obviously taken from pieces of Chinese characters.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Eiji Takano,

Thanks for that. Katakana and hiragana are indeed adapted from Chinese manyogana. But they were adapted by the Japanese for Japanese consumption nonetheless.

My point was that it serves no one to get bogged down in a protracted ad immature "My daddy can beat up your daddy" argument, which is precisely what leon118 was attempting to engage in.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

99% of the people in Japan don't care about Yasukuni

I wouldnt say they dont care. I think in this, like in many other things, Japanese people are singularly ill-informed. It suits the LDP to keep them that way

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites