On August 15, marking 80 years since Japan's unconditional surrender in World War II, Foreign Minister Wang Yi delivered a pointed reminder to Tokyo: only by acknowledging its past can Japan earn genuine respect and avoid repeating old mistakes.
Speaking after the tenth Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Foreign Ministers' Meeting, Wang, who also serves on the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, traced the arc of history back to the Potsdam Proclamation. He highlighted the Cairo Declaration and Potsdam documents as defining Japan's war responsibilities and mandating the return of territories, including Taiwan.
"The war of aggression waged by Japanese militarists inflicted immense suffering on the people of China and other Asian countries," Wang said, underscoring that the Japanese people themselves bore deep scars.
Yet, Wang warned, "Some forces in Japan continue to glorify and deny their invasion, distort history, and seek to rehabilitate war criminals." He argued that such moves challenge the post-war order, the United Nations Charter, and the conscience of all nations that triumphed over fascism.
Wang closed with a clear call to action: "Only by facing history squarely can respect be earned; only by drawing lessons from history can a better future be charted; only by remembering the past can we avoid straying onto the wrong path again. We urge Japan to choose wisely."
As debates over historical memory continue across East Asia, Wang Yi's remarks highlight the importance of confronting the past to shape a more respectful and stable future on the global stage.
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Chinese FM urges Japan to face history squarely to earn respect
cgtn.com
