China must guard against Japan's denial of history: military

China is right. Much of Japan's horrendous past has been whitewashed over.

And Abe is trying to give it another coat.

Just in case anything shows through the cracks.

China is correct in this, but they too have a lot of history they need to look at and tell the truth about.

How is it whitewashed? How can you blame an entire country for a few idiots statements when apologies have been issued so many times? Even if Abe does as they want next pm will be expected to apologize as well or else China will whine some more. It's a never ending cycle until more people back Japan in telling China to screw off

This should be a dispute in the court of public opinion that is easily winnable by Japan. It is obvious that Japan has not engaged in any form of military aggression post-WWII, while China has. It is clear that Japan is unlikely to engage in military aggression in the near future, which cannot be said for China.

That these right-wing Japanese politicians keep getting distracted from what should be an easy seizure of the moral high ground because they keep getting focused on appealing to fringe nationalist, revisionist voting-blocs is about the greatest "shoot-self-in-foot" moment I've ever seen.

Point is you can't expect everyone to hold a certain belief. Japan has apologized officially numerous times. However some idiots will always hold their own silly views. Just like if in America you pass laws against racism. Doesn't mean it'll stop racists from feeling the way they do. Whining about the past and hindering forward progress as a whole because of certain individuals is just as childish and stupid as those silly views held by the few "deniers"

Japan is a peaceful nation and everyone knows that Japan is doing a good and a great job concerning humanitarian aid.

War? Such word Japanese don't wanna even hear for this side.

Japan is a great country that has helped many countries, especially China to getting over of poverty though donations and investment.

While in China anti-Japanese education is emphasized, in Japan the so called anti-Chinese or anti-Korean education is not even cited by teachers and instructors.

Abe-san is a great leader and he doesnt desire his country to start a war. All he wants is a strong Japan.

Some probably will disagree with me, but their words will be only words, except if they can prove such thing.

China is trying to show to the world the image of "evil" Japan, but everyone knows that modern Japan is a peaceful nation.

Did Japan make mistakes in the past regarding the war? Yes, not only Japan, but also the USA, England, Germany, Brazil, etc... War never was a good thing to solve internal problems.

But now is different. Just look several missions that Japan has envolved since then.

Mission in Indonesia(East Timor) Mission to reconstruct Iraq Mission to build bridges in Myamar, Humanitarian help in african nations Humanitarian help for tornado victims in the Phillipines Humanitarian help for Korean incident on "Ferry case"( not accepted by S.Korean government) etc...

CajunH20: "Japan has apologized officially numerous times."

Not officially. The government has declared all apologies as those done so by individuals. That is part of the problem, and as the article points out due to the actions and comments by politicians that follow the apologies, such as Abe denying facts when it comes to sex slaves and atrocities, the sincerity of the nation in terms of how it views history is put into question.

"Whining about the past and hindering forward progress as a whole because of certain individuals is just as childish and stupid as those silly views held by the few "deniers""

Would you say the same to the families of those supposedly kidnapped by North Korea? Or is that suddenly not 'whining' and 'hindering forward progress as a whole because of certain individuals'? And before you try and defend the latter by saying it's not as long ago or there are still kidnapped victims alive or other excuses to justify why hypocrisy is relevant, let me remind you plenty of Imperial Japan's victims are still alive, and many of their relatives, who had to suffer via their family's suffering, are as well. Hell, even former Imperial troops who admit to atrocities, and victims in Japan who suffered under the Japanese government (like the "Japanese Schindler", executed for not listening to Japanese authorities and saving peoples lives) have their admittances and history denied by current politicians.

The only "whining" going on here is by those who can't get their way in trying to sweep history under the rug.

Some probably will disagree with me, but their words will be only words, except if they can prove such thing.

If that's true of 'some', then it's true for you too. Where is the proof of your claims that Abe's intentions are all peaceful?

Japanese government paid huge amount of war reparation to a lot of countries and apologized repeatedly. China and South Korea demand for another helping.

http://www.jiyuushikan.org/e/reparations.html http://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/area/taisen/qa/shiryo/pdfs/shiryo_07.pdf

Indemnity & grants (in yen, at the time of payment) Loans (in yen, at the time of payment)

Micronesia 1950 18 billion donated

Myanmar 1955, 1963 72 billion indemnity 50.4 billion grant 18 billion 10.8 billion

Philippines 1956 198 billion indemnity 90 billion

Indonesia 1958 80.3 billion indemnity (+63.7 billion credit write-off) 144 billion

Laos 1958 1 billion grant

Cambodia 1959 1.5 billion grant

Vietnam 1960 14 billion indemnity 6 billion

Korea 1965 108 billion 72 billion

Malaysia 1967 2.9 billion grant

Thailand 15 billion

Taiwan 58 billion

Singapore 1967 2.9 billion grant

Holland 1956 3.6 billion compensation

Switzerland 1955 1.1 billion compensation

Denmark 1955,1959 3 billion compensation 4.23 billion compensation

Sweden 1958 5 billion compensation

http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E3%81%AE%E6%88%A6%E4%BA%89%E8%B3%A0%E5%84%9F%E3%81%A8%E6%88%A6%E5%BE%8C%E8%A3%9C%E5%84%9F

China ODA more than 3 trillion yen. Japanese property donated to China after WW2 more than 200 billion yen.

CNBC(USA)

Who still owes what for the two World Wars?

Italy ($360 million) Italy was one of the main Axis Powers alongside Germany and Japan. Under a peace treaty, it was required to pay $125 million to Yugoslavia, $105m to Greece, $100m to the Soviet Union, $25m to Ethiopia and $5m to Albania.

Finland ($300 million) Out of all the countries that were required to pay reparations from World War II, Finland is the only one known to have paid its bill in full when it sent $300 million to the Soviet Union in 1952.

Hungary ($300 million) Under a peace treaty, Hungary was required to pay $200 million to the Soviet Union, and $100m to Czechslovakia and Yugoslavia.

Romania ($300 million) Under a peace treaty, Romania had to pay $300 million to the Soviet Union, for the damage it caused with its "military operations". According to the treaty, it was to be made "payable over eight years from September 12, 1944, in commodities."

Bulgaria ($70 million) Bulgaria was asked to pay $45 million to Greece, and $25m to Yugoslavia. For the full $70 million, the treaty said it was to be made "payable in kind from the products of manufacturing and extractive industries and agriculture over eight years."

And that has what to do with this discussion on China guard against Japan's wartime aggression!?

Since China has black spots in her history, she doesn't have moral to talk about Japan.

Meanwhile on a parallel universe

We must guard against denials of Mao's famine, Cultural Revolution atrocities, and Tiananmen Square myth

PLA

Since China has black spots in her history, she doesn't have moral to talk about Japan.

How does China's black spots excuse Japan's wrongdoings? That logic makes no sense.

So if I've killed a man, and you kill a man, it's ok that you killed a man because I also killed a man? Sorry, that's a logic failure.

Strangeland

If that's true of 'some', then it's true for you too. Where is the proof of your claims that Abe's intentions are all peaceful?

that is simple, just find an article that shows Abe-san encouraging war against China. I can guarantee you will not find it. Do you know why? Simple, he never encouraged war or invasion.

Smithinjapan you are absolutely spot on with your comments though the irrational will not like it!

Katsu78 your second paragraph points to the problem that will never go away and "distracted" is not the right word. The right wing politicians will always have to appeal to those fringe group as that is the base of their power. If they don't then they lose. All of us would like this to get resolved as it is the best thing for Asia but as long as Japan continues to have guys like Abe it never will.

How does China's black spots excuse Japan's wrongdoings?

Nobody is making excuses. What Olas want to mean is how dare China want to talk about Japan when she killed millions under Mao leadership.

that is simple, just find an article that shows Abe-san encouraging war against China.

Absence of proof is not proof. The absence of articles showing Abe is encouraging war against China is not proof that he is not for war with China. He may be working towards a war with China, and is just smart enough not to say it to reporters.

So again I ask, where is your proof that Abe doesn't desire for war?

Cracks me up how japanese kids don't know about their atrocious wartime past. But instead, are taught the US and China are warmongering nations. And that Japan is the most peaceful country in the world. Fools!

Academic scholars and their renowned institutions are addressing this very same concern & calling on Japan as we speak. When will Japan stray from its pride and accept the truth??

Germany and Japan are the war criminal states which massacred innocent people by the most brutal and heinous methods after getting engrossed in aggression against different countries in the first half of the 20th century. Germany has made efforts to relieve victimized countries of pain and redeem its crimes even a bit. But Japan has behaved quite contrary. Japan's rulers have never made sincere apology for the past crimes but totally denied them. It has incurred suspicion and hatred, not trust and respect of many countries. It's because Japan's morality and conscience are very vulgar. If Japan does not follow the example of Germany, it will suffer only insult and isolation.

The above is from Rodong Sinmun. Not really surprising how similar the N. Korean and Chinese rhetoric sounds.

Absence of proof is not proof.

The same you cannot say that he said such thing. In other words, you are unable to find evidences that he said such thing.

What Olas want to mean is how dare China want to talk about Japan when she killed millions under Mao leadership.

Again, what does this have to do with the price of tea in China? Nothing. China has it's wrongs that it should deal with. But that doesn't excuse Japan's wrongs. They are entirely separate issues, and one doesn't cancel out the other.

The same you cannot say that he said such thing. In other words, you are unable to find evidences that he said such thing.

Where in this thread have I claimed anything? I simply pointed out that you gave an opinion without any proof, then said that anyone who disagrees needs to show proof. If the people who disagree with you need to show proof, then you also need to show proof. So until you show proof, you have simply expressed an opinion that is simply one man's opinion, and nothing even remotely close to fact.

Again, what does this have to do with the price of tea in China? Nothing.

We are talking about casualities and deaths and not about your tea. Nobody is making excuse!

Where in this thread have I claimed anything?

Anti-Japanese guys claim that Abe-san said he encourage war against China. Such accusation is weird by considering the fact that he never told it. Again, where is the proof that he said such thing? Until now you didn't give any proof about that.

The onus of proof is for who are making such accusation by the way.

hugs!

We are talking about casualities and deaths and not about your tea. Nobody is making excuse!

Sure you are. You are saying that Japan should not be called out for it's atrocities because China has its own atrocities. China's atrocities have nothing to do with Japans, so there isn't any reason not to talk about Japan's atrocities.

The onus of proof is for who are making such accusation by the way.

The onus of proof is on those who make a claim. You claim Abe isn't interested in war. You haven't provided proof that he isn't interested in war. Where is your proof?

You are saying that Japan should not be called out for it's atrocities because China has its own atrocities

Nobody said such thing. I only said China dont have moral to say something about Japan since Mao killed many people. It does not mean I am denying. As I said in my first comment everyone made mistakes( including Japan too).

The onus of proof is on those who make a claim.

Until Abe start his administration nobody said anything. After that the anti-Japanese guys start to claim that he wanted to start a war against China. Now, why are you saying that we made the claim when actually you guys start to do such accusation?

Well anyway, the number of things that you should show as evidences grew significantly.

1- You need to give evidences that Abe san said such thing.

2- You need to give evidences We claim it first

3- You need to give evidences that Japanese is interesting on going to war.

I guarantee you dont have evidences!

Hugs

Nobody said such thing. I only said China dont have moral to say something about Japan

Ok, then in that case, Japan does not have the moral standing to say anything about China - Tibet, Mao or anything else - since Japan has its own wrongs. So according to your own words, you need to stop criticizing China.

Until Abe start his administration nobody said anything.

Of course not - how could anyone talk about Abe's administration before it existed?

After that the anti-Japanese guys start to claim that he wanted to start a war against China.

You are claiming he doesn't. Where is your proof? You ask for proof, but you cannot provide it.

As for Japan, pass some laws enforcing teaching of the actual events in Japanese classrooms, actually address individual grievances of the few remaining victims, inviting neighboring countries who were victims of Japanese aggression to Japan to commemorate WW2 anniversaries that don't just focus on Japanese victims but all victims. Do all that Japan and there truly isn't a need for another apology. Substance over words. Ball has always been in Japan's court over this. The reason German apologies work is because Germany stuck to terms of its apologies consistently regardless of political orientation of parties in power. Nazi worship and Holocaust denial are crimes in Germany, and every German school drills its children the evils of Nazis, so the German position on the Nazi past is consistent across generations. France and Poland then can make peace with Germany knowing that this new reformed Germany that criminalizes Nazi worship will never go Nazi again.

It's incidents like this that need a bit more than just "gomen ne!"

http://youmightfindyourself.com/post/44440797803/contest-to-kill-100-people-using-a-sword-in-1937

Japan does not have the moral standing to say anything about China

The funny thing is Japan never talked about China, but the international press who talked about Mao. Japan has nothing to do with what international press found about China. What are you saying doesnt make sense at all.

You are claiming he doesn't. Where is your proof? You ask for proof, but you cannot provide it.

Another funny thing is that nobody is trying to convince you with claims. We just answer your accusation. As I said, the onus of proof is for who are making accusation and your behavior just show you lack of evidences. Since Im not making accusation or claim, I dont need to prove it.

Well, anyway, I dont have whole time to talk about it with teenagers who just wanna run away every time.

Good luck with your research!

The funny thing is Japan never talked about China

You did right here:

Mao killed many people.

If China has no moral standing to talk about Japan, then the Japanese have no moral standing to talk about China. So you need to stop bringing up Chinese atrocities.

We just answer your accusation.

What accusations have I made? Go back and look through this thread. All I have done is point out that you are asking for proof, and not providing it.

@cajunH2O

Point is you can't expect everyone to hold a certain belief. Japan has apologized officially numerous times. However some idiots will always hold their own silly views. Just like if in America you pass laws against racism. Doesn't mean it'll stop racists from feeling the way they do. Whining about the past and hindering forward progress as a whole because of certain individuals is just as childish and stupid as those silly views held by the few "deniers"

Problem with that is that in Japan the idiots and deniers you talk of are in government, writing the history textbooks, and setting the national narrative.

Yesterday I had a conversation with a Japanese friend. She was talking about the Ghibli movies Grave of the Fireflies and Kaze Tachinu, and saying that she thinks it's important to know about the past and what happened in the war. I wholeheartedly agreed, but was then dismayed (though not surprised, really) to learn that she had no idea whatsoever about the Burma Death Railway or Batan death march, and only a slight inkling of what happened in Nanjing.

I just today witnessed an uyoku rally outside Ikebukuro station. Idiots in military uniforms on black vans screaming about China and Korea, foreigners, bla bla etc. These nutters are a minority in Japan, but they clearly believe that they represent the true Japanese viewpoint and they are emboldened and encouraged in this by the messages coming from those in government. Though I have great dislike for the CCP, I agree with them that the Japanese government must not be allowed to whitewash the past; the Japanese people today can't be held responsible for past wrongs, but they need to know what happened in order to better understand the potential dangers that lie in taking the wrong path and in order for Japan to be able to have true reconciliation with its former victims.

1.) I admit that I find the Japanese refusal to admit what they did between 1850 and 1945 worrisome. Their behavior may have met with acceptance in Japan under the tradition of glorifying the Emperor, but to any outsider their behavior was immoral.

2.) I also find very worrisome China's current, demonstrated willingness to bully its neighbors. I thought the idea behind transferring America's industrial infrastructure to China was to get them to meld into the international community, not to get them to try to dominate the international community through their increasing military might.

3.) I hope it does not appear as if I am picking on Japan and China. Every major power on the planet is guilty of plenty of misdeeds.

Money is not the point, its the Issue that started with Annexation of disputed Islands .had they remained Disputed and no claims this would never have came about. When you push some one will shove back that starts Wars..

Take the beam from your eye China before you try to take the mote from Japans eye. Guess your senility has caused your memory loss on Tibet and the eating of your own in a cultural war.

Well fair enough. If Japan's leadership wasn't denying history - they would have nothing to say on the topic. And for all you China-bashers - whatever China has done in its own country or to Tibet is irrelevant : this topic is about Japan's war of aggression in Asia - and its amnesia regarding said war

China is correct in this, but they too have a lot of history they need to look at and tell the truth about.

That is just using another's denialism to actively continue pursuing their own.

lol, I just wish Japan would start building a base on the Senkuku Islands once an for all and settle a non issue. Why not since China started the massive buildup when no one else was threatening them, nor building up military bases on smaller islands claimed by other countries and they just bullied their way in.

Mitsuo: "Since China has black spots in her history, she doesn't have moral to talk about Japan."

So, by your own logic, Japan has no right to talk to the UN about North Korea and the kidnappings, or other nations with others, or even within Japan, about China, or about the abduction issue, because Japan has black spots 'on her history', right? Or wait... is it suddenly 'different' in those cases? China most certainly does have black marks on its history -- every nation in the world does -- but that does not mean the do not have the right, especially since they were directly offended and atrocities committed against them by Japan, to point out another nation's wrong doing. If you truly believe China has no right to comment on Japan's wrong doings because of China's own wrong doings, then you also believe Japan has ZERO right to talk about any wrongdoings or injustices in the world, and DEFINITELY no right to talk about crimes against humanity or human rights in general.

So, Mitsuo, by your own logic, you can never talk about the abductions or atomic bombings of Japan and Japanese ever again... unless you see the flaws in your logic, of course, and admit China has every right to say what it has said.

I wonder which is the stronger sentiment in the comments I have read so far. The anti Abe (read: Japan), or the pro China? Is there a fine distinction? Maybe there is, but to me it is not important. Young people grow up in their respective countries knowing very little about their histories, unless it concerns great achievements. Japan is certainly not the only country. Which does not imply I am comfortable with that. Neither am I comfortable with the never ending hostile, antagonistic atmosphere created by Chinese politics against Japan. Are they entitled to do that till the end of times, or until everyone in Japan prostate themselves for past wrong doings (which cannot and will not be denied) perpetuating and intensify conflicts in territorial disputes in south east Asia? We must remain highly vigilant to the current aggression of China towards its neighbors. Declaring most of the south China sea as its territory, for example. "contempt for historical facts and international justice" is a phrase that comes back to China like a boomerang. What scares me is Xi and Putin becoming buddies. The discussion about Abe and his cronies allegedly attempting to whitewash history pales by that scenario.

china has its own domestic history that was cruel to her own people, but they never invade japan and carry out such massive killings, IJA did that, and remember not only to china.

it therefore won't be a surprise that the US (and other countries) will also give some slap on the wrist at times if leaders here continue to deliberately ignore the hard truths, which are facts of history, not myths.

Where is the proof of your claims that Abe's intentions are all peaceful?

That's a silly question. Where is the proof that your intentions are peaceful? Or the Pope's for that matter? China is making accusations of intent - it's up to them to prove it, or at least provide evidence. We don't yet live in a world where one can throw accusations at you, and then demand that you prove them to be false.

It's obvious to anyone who is watching where the belligerence and war-talk is coming from - and it's not Japan.

Right on, presto! Xi and Putin buddying up are troubling.

As for all this continual China asking for more apologies, I'm a bit tired of this mess. I've lived in Japan over 30 years and it never has ceased. Every single year it's China wanting deeper apologies from Japan. Dagnabbit, ENOUGH of this mess! I personally know of Americans who were decapitated by Chinese before WWII in China. A man and wife - just one couple that I personally knew about. There have been many more. Japanese also killed many before and during WWII. In terrible ways. We all know that.

So, in recent history, who would I trust? Japan or China? That'd be Japan for me!

The People’s Liberation Army Daily, the military’s official newspaper, said some political groups and figures in Japan are still denying the “barbarous crimes” of Japanese aggression, and still “paying homage to the souls of war criminals whose hands are stained with blood”.

Japan is still “challenging the intuitive knowledge of mankind” by beautifying colonial rule and invasions, and showing “contempt for historical facts and international justice”, the paper said in an editorial.

Unfortunately, these statemnets are factually correct. And while China is certainly being hypocritical in respect to the fact that its own human rigts record is apppaling, Japan has been its own worst enemy by providing China with this ammunition.

Mitsuo MatsuyamaMay. 10, 2015 - 04:57PM JST

Japan is a peaceful nation and everyone knows that Japan is doing a good and a great job concerning humanitarian aid.**

Then why is it seeking to repeal its pacifist constitution, increase its military hardware, continue to eradicate its World War II history of atrocities and the period leading to that all over Asia, its 'comfort women', challenging facts in authorative books written in other countries and its own school books and, as all Empires do, claim it was all in the name of 'doing good?'

Yes.....other countries all over the world have their own issues which they have generally faced and have internal debates about. It comes with growing up and being adult.

'Japan has apologised' but for what? Why not leave it at that instead of reflecting on the words used and set up 'panels' to discuss what variations or qualifications might now be uttered causing so many to worry about their sincerity? What was 'meant' becomes ever murkier. 'Actions speak louder than words'. Japan has not had room for any other actions than to be 'peacful' since World War II being occupied by USA forces. But they seek to be less so now.......so how much 'less peacful' with the weapons they want to build for themselves and sell to others?

There is clearly a difference between what the majority of people want in Japan and what their present leaders indicate.....that is the problem. I personally feel the Japanese people deserve better. I have Japanese friends and they do not deserve to be led into another misguided egotistical era by misguided politicians seeking to avoid the guilt of their own history often within their own families. No-one gets anywhere by fighting their grandparents wars. They have to sift the good and the bad and see each for what they are and move on into a better future.

All 'Japan' has to say is "We have apologized for the trerrible atrocities we visited on others all over Asia leading up to and during World War II.....other countries have too at one time or another in their history........but that does not excuse us. We are sorry...truly" And that is all that needs to be said.

@Godfrey KingMAY. 10, 2015 - 10:22PM JST

I find it truly APPALLING how easily the average guy in the West drinks the Chinese agitprop on this issue.

Then why is it seeking to repeal its pacifist constitution

I can justify this, but instead, the more salient point is that even the most extremist proposed in common circulation does not change it to anything more aggressive than the world norm. Even if it means Japan feels a need to be more "normal" in this regard, it does not seem a valid subject of complaint.

increase its military hardware

Please compare it to the country to the left of the map.

continue to eradicate its World War II history of atrocities and the period leading to that all over Asia, its 'comfort women', challenging facts in authorative books written in other countries and its own school books and, as all Empires do, claim it was all in the name of 'doing good?'

As you point out, the last is actually a rather common play, so why is it only the Japanese get so much flak for doing so?

And I think the West is really drunk on ChiCom agitprop when they link history education to potential Japanese aggression.

You see, either they are separate or they are connected. IF they are separated, as seems to be believed by Americans (the ones who tell Japan to suck up the "standard" version of Nanking and comfort women while suggesting they can be more cooperative with American defense efforts) there is no reason to believe a history entirely purged of Nanking and comfort women will necessarily make Japanese any more violent or even more defense-minded. The Chinese concern must be denounced as entirely invalid.

IF they are connected, as seems to be believed by Chinese, Koreans and Japanese (especially the right wing but even the left wing), then the Chinese concern is valid but now the Chinese have a conflict of interest in their statement, because it is to their interest that Japan keeps its military weak (it allows them to expand more with their military). And the Americans are now forced into a choice - in a world where they also want Japan to take up more of the defense burden, they may have to accept a historiography that is more positive about the IJA and Imperial policy in the 1930s in general.

It is good for Japan to leave the militarist past behind. Japan is a great nation and can bravely apologize for the adventures of the past. But China lecturing Japan is a joke. What about Tibet? China carved out Sichuan and Qinghai provinces out of Tibet and pretends that Tibet is a small part of the occupied land. Eventually Tibet and all Tibetan provinces will become free of the big jail called China. No denial will help.

Kazuaki ShimazakiMay. 10, 2015 - 10:55PM JST

I find it truly APPALLING how easily the average guy in the West drinks the Chinese agitprop on this issue.

No sir...I can think for myself. 'APPALLING' is the operative word which you are using somewhat out of context. Your argument seems to be 'everyone else does it so why not we?' Don't you think there is enough of that mindless attitude in this world?...'I do it because he does it'. And how odd that what happens in the east effects the west but my opinion is tainted because I do not agree with you and I presume none of my misguided business however much the world is destabilized by blinkered thinking. Just think a little sir......I could be right and millions more like me. Examine what you are saying and the facts and not so much of the presumptive attitude.

And what about the debate in Okinawa and disagreeing voices within Japan. Are they 'APPALLING' too? All down to Chinese agitprop is it? Or is that all down to pesky furriners eh? If only they would leave you alone. Is that it? Isolation is no defence and not much fun. 'We', in the West have a saying 'No Man Is An Island'.

As I suggested:-

All 'Japan' has to say is "We have apologized for the trerrible atrocities we visited on others all over Asia leading up to and during World War II.....other countries have too at one time or another in their history........but that does not excuse us. We are sorry...truly" And that is all that needs to be said.

And that, I suggest, should meet with your approval instead of seeking to reflect a mirror image of those you mention (China) as if i have no view of them. It does not excuse Japan......that is what I am saying. Look at what I wrote not what you wanted to see or chose to ignore.

Right on, presto! Xi and Putin buddying up are troubling.

As for all this continual China asking for more apologies, I'm a bit tired of this mess. I've lived in Japan over 30 years and it never has ceased. Every single year it's China wanting deeper apologies from Japan. Dagnabbit, ENOUGH of this mess! I personally know of Americans who were decapitated by Chinese before WWII in China. A man and wife - just one couple that I personally knew about. There have been many more. Japanese also killed many before and during WWII. In terrible ways. We all know that.

So, in recent history, who would I trust? Japan or China? That'd be Japan for me!

Nope. Not while Japan doesn't have laws against denied war crimes. Till it does all apologies will be cancelled out

“barbarous crimes”

yeah, RIGHT.... and those reclamation at West Philippines Sea is not barbarous? Talk about pot calling the kettle black...

Looks to me PM Abe is putting Japan on track to be the only country to be devastated by atomic or nuclear weapons from 2 different countries in history, USA and China. Are these tens of millions of Japanese who might be killed going to stand up and stop PM Abe ?

China is remaining "vigilant" against 70 year old Japanese Imperialism by occupying other countries and displacing the local populatuon with Han immigrants (anyone remember 1930s Manchiria?), expanding their territorial claim over the entire East and South China Seas at the expese of their smaller Asian neighbors, and declaring the intent to replace the United States as the dominant strategic power in the region. Nobody else in the world but the deceitful Koreans buys this Chinese nonsense, not even Russia. Abe is the first J-PM to put his neck on tjhe line in support of US requests that have been continuous since 1950, the year Chinese troops were killing UN Troops from 17 countrires on the Korean Penninsula. Yea, China needs to remain vigilant....LOL

And the Americans are now forced into a choice - in a world where they also want Japan to take up more of the defense burden, they may have to accept a historiography that is more positive about the IJA and Imperial policy in the 1930s in general.

How about the other way around? How about the Japanese give up their denialism and historical revisionism in exchange for an amended constitution?

You see, its the combination of the two - the "we did absolutely nothing wrong" plus revived military capacity - which scares me. You know what they say about those who forget the mistakes of the past.

I'd rather be vigilant of China. They actually have the assets to wage war.

In the meantime, I'm gonna go practice how to say "How do you want your tea?" in Mandarin, in case my future Chinese overlords employ me as a butler.

Most of YOU do not understand the problems which are causing the bad relations between PM Abe and China's and S Korea's leaders. If YOU do not know what the problems are, you CAN NOT fix the problems. Below are some of the problems : (1) PM Abe should NOT have visited and paid his respects at the Yasukuni Shrine where the names of the CONVICTED WAR CRIMINALS are kept. This visit has sent the wrong message that he supports and condones the atrocities they ordered and allowed.

(2) Several of PM Abe's officials claimed the "comfort women" were prostitutes or provided sexual services willingly. These statements are insults to these women. Former US Sectary of State H. Clinton said they were "sexual slaves".

(3) Several of PM Abe's officials said the Nanjing Massacre was a lie. There are thousands of photos, videos, diplomatic reports, documents, eyewitnesses, etc. which prove that at least tens of thousands of Chinese civilians were killed.

(4) Declassified documents from UK prove that the Japan's PM Zenko Suzuki told UK's PM Margaret Thatcher in 1982 that he and Chinese leader Deng Xio Ping agreed to shelve the Senkaku Island dispute. Also attending the meeting was Foreign Minister Yoshio Sakurauchi and Chief Cabinet Secretary Kiichi Miyazawa, a future prime minister. PM Abe said NO SUCH AGREEMENT exists. http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/12/31/national/history/japan-china-agreement-maintain-senkaku-status-quo-82-suzuki-thatcher-files/ http://www.margaretthatcher.org/

and those reclamation at West Philippines Sea is not barbarous?

Barbarous is a strong word. Is the Chinese military using biological agents, or conducting experiments on live human subjects? I think we can safely conclude "no" is the answer there. China may be flexing its muscles........but that doesn't change what this thread is about: Japan's contrition - or lack thereof, for its war crimes in China and elsewhere

These statements are insults to these women. Former US Sectary of State H. Clinton said they were "sexual slaves".

I couldn't agree more

Corrections to my comments on May 11, 2015. The 2 internet addresses displayed at the end should be separated.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/12/31/national/history/japan-china-agreement-maintain-senkaku-status-quo-82-suzuki-thatcher-files/ http://www.margaretthatcher.org/

It is the leaders of Communist China who pose danger to the world.

During the years 1958 -1960...up to 45 million Chinese were starved/killed in China. Not because of natural disaster...no no no.....it was a man made disaster. By Chinese leadership.

These leaders allowed that many of its own people to die,..... And don't even mention it in their textbooks. By the way, any publication of this disaster is prohibited in China.

China spends more money on internal security than on the military A police state....

What do you think they will do to other people of the world? It didn't bother them to get rid of 45 million of their own, and it won't bother them to do the same with the rest of the world that opposes their lawless expansion policy.

Watch out..... it is happening in the East China Sea and in the South China sea.....

It is the leaders of Communist China who pose danger to the world.

China is not communist.

Yes, and equally Chang Kai-Sheks breaching of the Yellow River without warning, drowning 800,000 and killing many more 100s of 1,000s through starvation and disease, suggests the Chinese people are far more at threat from their own leadership than any foreign power?

Perhaps the author above writes "Communist China" to differentiate it from the democratic Republic of China?

Such well coordinated propaganda campaigns, and it is said China is investing 100s of $1,000,000s in the latest, is not about "raising vigilance against attempts in Japan to deny its history of aggression" but attempting to discredit Japan on the world stage by making false assertions such as reinforcing the suggestion that Japanese have not "acknowledge history" or repeating doubts about the sincerity of the Japanese apology.

As many times as Japan was to apologise - and ABe just made an "eternal" one - they would claim it was not enough ... Beijing obviously wants more than an infinite amount!

Germany recently rebuffed Beijing refusing to to be cynically dragged into China’s information war with Japan. The rest of us should do so so.

China has studied the politics surrounding Holocaust and is attempting to extort concessions from Japan, and the rest of Asia-Pacific region, portraying itself the victim. Culturally, it has been part of China's feudal-like mentality that relatives and descendent of those accused should be punished or pay for actions in the past they had nothing to do with for a long time.

100,000s, if not 1 millions of Chinese, have languished and died in its gulag camps on the basis of exactly the same cruel and insane logic.