Voices
in
Japan

poll

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will visit Hawaii Dec 26-27 to pay his respects to the war dead at Pearl Harbor. China says he should do likewise at Nanjing. Do you agree with China?

33 Comments
© Japan Today

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

33 Comments
Login to comment

Wouldn't he have to admit that it happened in the first place?

12 ( +16 / -4 )

Yes. Japan has been making peace with the USA for 70 years.

Go to Nanjing, Abe.

6 ( +17 / -11 )

In theory, I agree, but I doubt if Abe would get out of China alive.

-1 ( +10 / -11 )

China can pay respect to the millions massacred in the Cultural Revolution, the dozens killed in Tiananmen Square, and their oppression of the Tibetans and Uyghurs before seeking anything from Japan.

Face your own demons before challenging others to face theirs.

5 ( +17 / -12 )

Face your own demons before challenging others to face theirs.

Why does one have to happen before the other?

4 ( +15 / -11 )

It is like an enigmatic line in an old Star Trek movie, in which Kirk, et al. went back in time to 1980s San Francisco when at one point Spock recalls a famous saying (?) 'Only Nixon could go to China' recalling the early 1970s rapprochement.

Well, now forty years later, Only Abe can go to China.

(If you are not sure about how to understand it, think this way: the Chinese are not going to nor even have to go to themseslves. As well, unlikely as it may seem, it would need to be Abe, because any worm-like PM would never have the backbone to do it if Abe's predecessors are any standard to go by).

-4 ( +3 / -7 )

He should go.

He should stand firm and say

We did bad things during the war and we were wrong. But that was then and this is now. We cannot change the past, but we can learn from it to forge a better future together. So let us acknowledge the past solemly, but not dwell on it. Let us forgive the mistakes of the past, but not forget them. And let us heal the wounds of history together so that our children do not feel the same pain. Let us try to resign history to the past and work together as an Asian family to create a better world and a better future for future generations.

That solemn admission and rapprochement would bring TREMENDOUS prestige to Abe. It may piss off the right wing for a short time, but they'd get over it I'm not holding my breath though.

4 ( +10 / -6 )

Yes and no. If he's honest about honoring the loss of life, then absolutely. Even if he isn't he should. But there is no way he thinks what Japan did there is wrong, and is one of the deniers of the atrocity (if not just the extent of it). On China's end of it, they are absolutely right in pointing out the hypocrisy of Abe's visit to Hiroshima and no visit to Nanjing, and they deserve a visit FAR more, but they would only use it for propaganda (the victims who are still alive, and the public might welcome it in the proper way, as did Hiroshima survivors, but the government won't). While I think a visit should definitely be in the cards, I don't think either side is mature enough for it yet.

1 ( +10 / -9 )

I think at some point the Japanese government should, but not to the current Chinese government

-1 ( +5 / -6 )

No, at least not on China's terms.

Contrary to what the naysayers here would have you believe, in fact Shinzo Abe has taken a remorseful tone in regards to Japan's past atrocities.

That said, he shouldn't go to Nanjing just because Chinese politicians say he should. Knowing their history, it wouldn't do one bit of good to improve relations.

Just look at when then Prime Minister Koizumi visited China in early 2000's. He actually went near the location the Marco Polo Bridge in China, considered the flashpoint and start of Japan's war against China. He also visited a museum that highlights Japan's aggression against China, signing a guestbook in a conciliatory gesture. At the time, Chinese newspapers heralded his actions.

But it's just like the Korean nationalists, it's never good enough. And doesn't matter what any Japanese politician does, the nationalists will always moan that it's not enough, that the politician didn't actually get down on his knees and beg and grovel for forgiveness, etc. etc.

So why should Abe visit Nanjing, when the Chinese nationalists and politicians know damned well they'll continue to fan the anti Japan sentiment.

-2 ( +7 / -9 )

Oldman,

The biggest problem with the few sincere efforts from Japan & they are VERY few, is that as soon as they happen there is a stampede of denials & trips to yasukuni to quickly make any little bit of progress disappear almost instantly.

Yeah abe should visit China & a few other places as well, he has LOTS of choices to pick from!

0 ( +8 / -8 )

The biggest problem with the few sincere efforts from Japan & they are VERY few, is that as soon as they happen there is a stampede of denials & trips to yasukuni to quickly make any little bit of progress disappear almost instantly.

That's it right there. As usual, GW you nailed it!

-2 ( +8 / -10 )

I like Japan, that's why I moved here, but on this matter, I have to say I agree with China. Abe going to the US but not China just makes him look like an ass-kisser on this matter.

-5 ( +7 / -12 )

kibousha,

Abe going to the US but not China just makes him look like an ass-kisser on this matter.

Ass-kisser.

I'd say that was a pretty apt description.

Thank you.

-6 ( +3 / -9 )

Accidently clicked "No" but I think it would put China in the spotlight if Abe visited Nanjing as well. If Japan acknowledged Imperial Japan's actions China would be expected to acknowledge the CCPs actions against their own people. All Japan has to do is accept the most important step... because once they do, China's CCP won't have a leg to stand on and can be easily called out for their own hypocrisy.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Japan has been saying Nanjin is China's lie.

-7 ( +5 / -12 )

Whatever reasons are, more than 40% said No was unexpected. This 70 voters must include silent readers

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

I'm for it, on the condition there would be a quid-pro-quo offered in advance by China, such as the visit by Abe would be treated as a reconciliation, and that China would turn down (or even better, turn off) it's anti-Japanese propaganda machine, especially those horrible TV melodramas showing the 8th Route Army coming to the rescue of the peasants and driving off the evil 東洋鬼 (dongyang gui, east Asian devils).

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Ideally he should go. But he shouldn't, because the Chinese government and media will heap their usual scorn on Japan and propagandize his visit. And that's more important to them than a genuine apology.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Face your own demons before challenging others to face theirs.

Why does one have to happen before the other?

Otherwise, they would be hypocrites.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

China would not receive the gesture in good faith, but rather would seek to use it against Japan.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

Sure... IF then these two will try to normalize relations after. If it's only to appease ones ego and fan your own political base then no, since we are nearly at war, why would we do that?

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

I think Japan should do a better job with Korea first perhaps. I would say a "yes" some day but not now. Both sides need to build much more trust. China is untrustworthy in terms of framing and managing such an event. They would have to be magnanimous. I think Abe has not done a great job generally but China is not a country that is an honest or trustworthy partner either. Yes someday, no now. It is hard to engage in such an event in a country that is internally dishonest about its own history, that is without free expression and free self-examination. I do think Japan can make more overtures/gestures short of this.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Raw BeerDEC. 13, 2016 - 04:08PM JST Otherwise, they would be hypocrites.

Newsflash dude, they're politicians. They're all hypocrites.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

I am interested in moral and logical reasoning of "people" behind the "No" answer. Denying the deceased respect and tension ease between countries should not happen because... because China can not do it first? Is this kindegarden or a mental institution?

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

Perhaps Xi Jinping should first visit all the "cemeteries" in China where victims of Mao's policies are.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Good: CrucialSDEC. 12, 2016 - 08:22AM JST China can pay respect to the millions massacred in the Cultural Revolution, the dozens killed in Tiananmen Square, and their oppression of the Tibetans and Uyghurs before seeking anything from Japan.

Face your own demons before challenging others to face theirs.

Well said Crucial!!! Mao killed more people than Hitler, Stalin, etc. combined. Plus, NO freedom in China today! Bunch of commie pinkos. NO Mr. Abe, DO NOT go to China!

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Well said Crucial!!! Mao killed more people than Hitler, Stalin, etc. combined.

And? How does that excuse Japan from making an apology?

Plus, NO freedom in China today! Bunch of commie pinkos. NO Mr. Abe, DO NOT go to China!

There's more than you seem to realize. Certain things are stifled, other things aren't.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Which side's "war dead"? If by this you mean the Japanese, Abe could simply go up the street to Yasukuni. If by this you mean American casualties, he's on record saying he's not making an apology visit. As for Nanjing, he and many of his fellow travellers have repeatedly rejected facts from impartial international scholars about the murderous rampage of Japanese forces there. Look at the way he tried to lay the entire issue to rest on the back of a single forced retraction based on the work of a single author whose articles ran in the Asahi Shimbun, and how other Japanese "journalists" piled on and attacked instead of defending him as a fellow journalist. As for China, Mao's Communist Party has done far worse and killed millions more of their own people than the Japanese ever did, and have done a much better job of purging their history books as well. Their campaign against those who would tell any historical truth that does not support their version of events continues to this day.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

anotherexpatDEC. 18, 2016 - 06:18PM JST He was born after the WWII. What do you want him to do? He was born after WWII.

If by this you mean the Japanese, Abe could simply go up the street to Yasukuni. If by this you mean American casualties, saying he's not making an apology visit. As for Nanjing, he and many of his fellow travellers have repeatedly rejected facts frominternational scholars about the murderous rampage of Japanese forces there.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

How much money in reparations was given to the Chinese people AND Government to make amends for the horrific past? How many past Japanese prime ministers have sincerely apologized to the surviving rape victims and survivors of that tragic event? When will China let go of the past? Its like if America were still wanting Japan to apologize for Pearl Harbour. It happened, lives were lost, monies and apologies were paid/made. Forgive and forget. Its the only way to heal. Its the only way!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

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