[國際新聞] August 15 not a day for Japanese politicians to play petty tricks declared, countries, invasion, tricks

peter236

http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90883/7911462.html

People's Daily Online
16:02, August 15, 2012

August 15 is a special and sensitive day for China-Japan relations and also a day that China must be on alert.

On Aug. 15, 1945, Japan, which launched the barbaric invasion and brought much misery to China and other Asian countries declared their unconditional surrender. Whether Japan should reflect on its dishonorable period of history or continue to enlarge the wound of the Asian people should have been answered a long time ago. Unfortunately, some Japanese politicians still stick to the wrong outlook on history and play petty tricks on cardinal issues of right and wrong.

People noticed that the Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda said on Aug. 10 that he and members of his cabinet will obey the principle of not officially visiting the Yasukuni Shrine. However, on the same day, the Japanese Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Yuichiro Hata declared that he would pay a visit to the Yasukuni Shrine on Aug. 15 as an individual. The Chairman of the National Public Safety Commission of Japan Jin Matsubara also implied that he may visit the shrine as well.

The Yasukuni Shrine contains memorials for 14 war criminals of the Second World War. It is out of question to have a place calling back the “souls” of war criminals. What does visiting the Yasukuni Shrine mean? Does “visiting it unofficially” and “visiting it officially” have any difference if they distort history and trample the truth so brazenly? Who will believe the nonsense of “visiting it as an individual?”

If the government of a country wants to be respected and trusted by the international community, it must take sincerity and integrity as its foundation. If it allows its cabinet members to keep crossing political and moral bottom lines, how can it expect to have any prestige?

he first reason for the Japanese government to “restrain” its cabinet members on the issue of visiting the Yasukuni Shrine is international relations. More directly speaking, the Japanese government has concerns that visiting the shrine will affect Japan's relations with China, South Korea and other Asian countries. However, this reason exactly reveals the reason for some Japanese politicians to visit the shrine stubbornly. In these politicians' opinions, the Japanese government's restraint on them is caused by Japan's diplomatic situation and outside pressure and has nothing to do with the outlook on history. Therefore, there are no political and moral bottom lines that cannot be crossed.

This issue is not only an international relations issue but also an international political issue, an international moral issue and an issue that is closely connected with the peace and stability of Asia. If a country has lost the fundamental moral principle, how can it harmoniously get along with its neighbor countries and how can it inject positive energy for regional development and peace?