As China prepares to mark the 80th anniversary of its victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, diplomatic tensions are flaring. Recent reports reveal Japan has urged global leaders to skip Beijing’s September 3 military parade – a move critics call a ‘blind spot’ in historical accountability. 🕊️
Why it matters: The parade commemorates China’s 1931-1945 struggle against invasion, which saw over 35 million casualties. Yet Japan’s lobbying efforts, framed as avoiding ‘anti-Japanese overtones,’ risk reigniting unresolved wounds from atrocities like the Nanjing Massacre and wartime biological experiments.
Chinese officials emphasize the event aims to ‘remember history and cherish peace.’ But Tokyo’s push highlights its reluctance to confront its past, says analyst Chen Guifang: ‘Closing eyes to history blinds the present.’ 🔍
Zoom out: While Germany’s post-WWII reconciliation is often praised, Japan’s stance remains contentious. With Asia-Pacific stability at stake, this diplomatic clash underscores how wartime legacies still shape today’s geopolitics. Can honest dialogue bridge the divide? 🤝
