politics

China stresses nationalism in war anniversary propaganda push

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"President Ma Ying-jeou of self-ruled Taiwan said on Saturday it was Nationalist Chinese forces which won the war against Japan, challenging Beijing’s official line, which focuses on the heroics of the Communist army."

You can be sure those 20 documentaries, 12 television dramas and three animated programs won't mention this.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

why aren't the pundits and media bashing china for doing this? if it were japan doing it, you'd be sure there would be streams of anti-japanese sentiment invoking the horrors of japan's war crimes.

-1 ( +9 / -10 )

No surprise there since nationalism is basically the only fall back legitimacy the leadership has. But it is amazing that a country that prides itself on such a long history has learned very little wisdom in that time. There are just endless repetitions of failed European experiments in communism, fascism and nationalism.

0 ( +5 / -5 )

...it was Nationalist Chinese forces which won the war against Japan...

Westernization of society means complete degrading of historical knowledges. Besides, Soviets played a critical role in military operations in China but since that time they neither boast about nor bash Japan.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

China is the 21st century version of 1930s Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I think you could replace "China" with "Japan" in the headline and it would still make sense, what with nutcase Abe's flag-waving, anthem-playing propaganda drive.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

A staff member of a tourism resort dressed as a Japanese soldier squirts water guns as he takes part in a mock fight with children

Wow, those kids, in the photo, are really letting that guy have it.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Japan just gives fuel to the Chinese propogandists by denying that they did anything wrong in their colonial enterprise before WWII. It's been said so many times in this forum, just own up to your wrongdoing and then everybody can move on, as has happened in Germany. Chinese behaviour here is ludicrous, but will never end until the cult of denial and rewriting history ends in Japan.

0 ( +7 / -7 )

There are so childish and immature that I don't even know what to say.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Time for China to look at its own skeletons in its cupboard: Cultural Revolution & Tianmen Square i.e. incidents against its own citizens. The Chinese has been using geo-political strategies to bulldoze its ways in recent times: e.g. change it made to the agreement of 1 Party 2 Systems for HK; bullying smaller claimants of territorial waters in the South China Sea. China's claimed 90% of the South China Sea based on "Chinese historical 9 dotted lines", and had refused to go to arbitration with UN legal body (UNCLOS) when Philippines presented its case to the UN. What does this mean? Most of Asia including Japan are not stupid - they know China's motives: (1) perpetuate the legitimacy of the dictatorial Chinese Communist Party & continuously encouraging animosity against Japan for WW II atrocities & now others (inc. US). (2) Wanting to be recognized as the "magnanimous" Great Power and the same time (3) make the rest of Asian Countries its "Tributary" States to kow-tow to Chinese Economic Power & Military Might. Asian nations except some subservient States are NO FOOLS. That is why it was wise for Japan to join US, Philippines & Australia in Military Exercises recently, to safeguard security in the effected maritime areas. The truth is always bitter for China. Hopefully this will change: "Better for the Chinese to take the OWLISH approach & live in peace & be respected, than using the HAWKISH bulldozing approaches that trample on the small countries.

6 ( +9 / -3 )

And China still wonders why other countries look at it like it's crazy while it tries to become a "respected" super-power.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

The Great Wall Built by Flesh and Blood

Dear Great Leader, this is the 21st century, not the 1950s.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Chinese behaviour here is ludicrous, but will never end until the cult of denial and rewriting history ends in Japan.

Exactly

-4 ( +5 / -9 )

Aw, they're just copying our dearly beloved Abe!

-3 ( +6 / -9 )

Precisely, such a great role model

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

“nationalism and culture”......Propaganda of he abused adopting the politics and behaviors of the past abuser.... .

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Anything to get the people's attention away from the crashing Chinese Stock market! This is what happens when you can't get outside news!

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Is it any wonder why China's weaker neighbors are very wary of it,

when it does things like this that does the exact opposite of lowering tension?

China is doing nothing to lower down tension in the region,

then complains when its neighbors react trying to protect themselves.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Japan government keep denying they did anything, admit it come clean and everyone can move on.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

Ultra nationalism was a major component in the direction of Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan in the 1930s. In todays world China, a one party dictatorship of all things, is the only major power that is following this route.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

180 children’s shows, dramas and musicals, a object lesson in cultural and political self harming. The Government of China is shaming it's people more than marking the 70th anniversary of the end of World War Two in Asia.

An appalling spectacle, not of remembrance, but a absurd shameful mockery of the very patriotism, uprightness and heroism the Government of China proposes to value and preserve

0 ( +1 / -1 )

hackneyJul. 07, 2015 - 11:54AM JST

Chinese behaviour here is ludicrous, but will never end until the cult of denial and rewriting history ends in Japan.

The Japanese "cult of denial" is debatable and possibly does not reflect the opinions of the vast majority of the Japanese people, whereas, this Chinese propaganda is clearly meant to generate mass hate (even with children) towards another country (Japan), in the disguise of "Nationalism".

Whatever ignorance the right wing of the Japanese Government is guilty of, it certainly does not constitute brain-washing the entire Chinese population (again, including children) to hate another country for future generations. It's so sad that a few a-holes standing at the top of both countries can generate so much hate between their people.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

this seems like the chinese and korean governments are like the jewish people during the holocaust, just trying to promote education about the past so this doesnt happen again. which finally for germany to acknowledge what happened.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Many of the works will highlight the efforts of China’s ruling Communist Party in the war against Japan.

Which is equivalent to hiding in the bushes while KMT took the major damage thereby paving the way for CCP to essentially 'mop up' the depleted KMT.

For this, Chair Mao actually displayed an expression of appreciation to Kakuei Tanaka. LOL.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

So, is it new? No. Any country will mark the anniversary of some war and/or fought against invasion, etc.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

yamashi JUL. 07, 2015 - 09:50AM JST Besides, Soviets played a critical role in military operations in China but since that time they neither boast about nor bash Japan.

If the occupation of Kurile Islands since WWII is not about bashing Japan, what is it? If you remember, Japan and Russia has not signed a peace agreement. Wonder why?

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

It's been said so many times in this forum, just own up to your wrongdoing and then everybody can move on

If you think that will lead to less tension over the Senkaku Islands or China reducing its military spend or China giving up its ludicrous claim to nearly all of the South China Sea, you are hopelessly naive. 'Moving on' is not what China wants to do.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

If you think US government the master of Japan really want PEACE, they would have ask Japan government to admit it and move on.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

So what's new? The CPC has been "stressing nationalism" ever since it seized power in China in 1949. Fomenting nationalism is one thing that helps any autocratic government maintain its hold on power. The fact is that neither Chinese Nationalists or Communists defeated Japan in WWII; the USA did. Now China is pretending it won the war - 70 years later.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

@sfjp330" If the occupation of Kurile island after WWII is not about bashing Japan, what is it?"

It is not about "bashing Japan". In Russo-Japanese war in 1904-1905, Russians lost. Japan took all islands of Kuril chain together with big Karafuto (Sakhalin) islands. In 1945 Russians regained those islands. By comparison to China, North and South Korea Russia doesn't make claims "to apologize" or demands anything from Japan. They celebrate a victory over NAZIs of Germany every year but have no annual tradition to celebrate victory over Japan. If you bother to read English versions of their newspapers or net media, you will quickly realize it.

"Japan and Russia have not signed a peace agreement. Wonder why?"

Because for more than 70 years Japanese political elite were and are boneless puppets of the USA. They blindly follow US foreign political course. The USA use old Roman principle Divide et Empera. The USA urge Japan not to sign the peace agreement for years. Another example, while calling South Korea and Japan "close allies", at the same time the USA are fueling tensions between countries, by erecting statues of so-called "comfort women" in America.

@A Realist "neither Chinese Nationalists or Communists defeated Japan in WWII; the USA did".

Perhaps, in American history textbooks for elementary schools. In reality IJA was defeated in Northern China in three wees by massive assault of huge amount of Soviet forces and Communist Chinese actively supported them.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Chinese behaviour here is ludicrous, but will never end until the cult of denial and rewriting history ends in Japan. Exactly. Aw, they're just copying our dearly beloved Abe

I’m certainly no fan of the far-right wing in Japan or their efforts to revise their country’s WW II history, but to somehow say that it’s the Japanese government’s fault, or Abe’s in particular, that the Chinese communist government is engaging in a massive propaganda effort to re-write the entire narrative of WW II is hard to buy. The communist party is doing this for their own self-interests, and in their minds, their own survival. The party must have a demon to focus the public’s attention away from endemic corruption and denial of basic human rights – better if the demon is “foreign”, as they can then embellish the narrative with emotionally charged accusations of historical slights to “China’s dignity”. Similarly this week, perhaps you’ve seen coverage in China’s state controlled media blaming “foreigners” for the deep sell-off in the Chinese stock market.

Let’s make a quick comparison – those in Japan that oppose Abe’s right wing politics can support and vote for political parties that also oppose Abe and the LDP. What anti-communist political parties exist in China, and what happens to you if you do support anti-communist party views? As with this weekend, if you oppose Abe and the LDP, you have the right to legitimately protest in public, to convince others of your views – what happens when you conduct an anti-communist party protest in China? In Japan, there are media outlets that cater to and serve as a voice for anti-Abe and anti-LDP views – what non-state controlled media outlets exist in China?

Those that somehow think Abe and the right wing in Japan drive this strategic decision by China to demonize Japan have a rather naïve and distorted view of real-politics………..

2 ( +3 / -1 )

yamashi: BS. You can play pretend all you want, but the fact is that China was defeated, occupied and humiliated by Japan and Japan surrendered on Sept. 2, 1945 aboard the USS Missouri. There was not even any such thing as "The Peoples Republic of China" in 1945; the CPC government never took over till 1949, after a civil war. And no Chinese troops ever set foot in Japan. You can distort or twist history all you want but facts are facts. China never even participated in the Treaty of San Francisco.

By the way, the reason Japan did not sign a treaty with Russia (at that time the Soviet Union) because of the Northern Territories, which the Soviet Union seized from Japan AFTER the war was over. Japan does not consider those four islands part of the Kurils.

"In 1855, Russia and Japan signed the Treaty of Shimoda, which gave Japan ownership of the four southern islands and Russia ownership of everything to the north. Communities developed on three of the islands and by the time World War II began, there were 17,000 Japanese residents. Russia took control of the islands at the end of the war, and by 1949 it had deported all residents to Japan."

1 ( +2 / -1 )

yamashi JUL. 08, 2015 - 08:35AM JSTIt is not about "bashing Japan". In Russo-Japanese war in 1904-1905, Russians lost. Japan took all islands of Kuril chain together with big Karafuto (Sakhalin) islands. In 1945 Russians regained those islands.

Here is a history lesson for you. The first Russo-Japanese agreement to deal with the status of Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands was the 1855. The islands of Kunashiri, Shikotan and the Habomai Islands, that all lie to the south of Etorofu, are not explicitly mentioned in the treaty and were understood at the time to be a non-disputed part of Japan. The treaty also specified that the island of Sakhalin/Karafuto was not to be partitioned but was to remain under a joint Russo-Japanese condominium.

In a subsequent 1875 Treaty of Saint Petersburg Russia and Japan agreed that Japan would give up all rights to Sakhalin in exchange for Russia giving up all rights to the Kurile Islands to Japan. The 1905 Treaty of Portsmouth, gave the southern half of Sakhalin Island to Japan. In 1875, the treaty of St. Petersburg, Russia gave up all rights to the Kurile Islands to Japan.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

@A Realist "no Chinese troops even set foot in Japan"

They did not need to do it. Because they helped Soviets to fight one million people IJA in Northern China. While Americans bombed innocent civilians in Japanese cities, Chinese assisted Soviets to fight armed forces of Japan.

"the Soviet Union seized from Japan AFTER the war was over".

I am not surprised of classic western (mostly American) deep ignorance of historical knowledges. Soviet troops fought Japanese garrison, deployed on Kurils (around 80 000 soldiers) in August of 1945 and seized the chain in battle. By comparison, during American offensive operation on Iwo Jima it took more than 2 months for 100 000 Americans to defeat 22 000 Japanese garrison of Iwo Jima.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

yamashi JUL. 08, 2015 - 09:57AM JST Soviet troops fought Japanese garrison, deployed on Kurils (around 80 000 soldiers) in August of 1945 and seized the chain in battle. By comparison, during American offensive operation on Iwo Jima it took more than 2 months for 100 000 Americans to defeat 22 000 Japanese garrison of Iwo Jima.

There is the difference, Americans left Iwo Jima but Russians decided to steal the island that was not theirs.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

sfjp330 "There is the difference, Americans left Iwo Jima but Russians decided to steal the island".

You forgot about Okinawa, de facto occupied by Americans. I see no angered protests in Japan with furious demands "to return Kuriles".

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

yamashi JUL. 08, 2015 - 10:34AM JSTYou forgot about Okinawa, de facto occupied by Americans. I see no angered protests in Japan with furious demands "to return Kuriles".

Okinawa was returned to Japan in 1972. Kurile islands were returned to Japan when?

1 ( +2 / -1 )

I wonder how many Chinese care about nationalism or WWII when their life savings are evaporating in the stock markets.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Reminder to all who point fingers at another.

When one points a finger at another, his own hands have three of his own fingers always pointing back at himself. No matter where one points there is always three that inevitably point back at oneself.

One for thinking, one for speaking and one for action.

But, open hands do not point, they "invite" calmness and openness, a path to dialog and sharing.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Chinese Government's anti-Japanese is hurting friendship between ordinary Chinese peoples and Japanese peoples. A few months ago, our Chinese closed friend uploading wartime photographs on his Facebook and talk about his grandpa was killed by Japanese soldier in the war. We said we are sorry to hear that and apology for Japanese Imperial military mistreatment on Chinese civilians. Now our friendship was not as good as before. History can't change but peoples can learn from past mistake. We can't be dwelling forever on the past and we must move on.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

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