Every time I attended the Remembrance Day ceremony in Valletta, I was deeply touched by the somber and solemn atmosphere. It was an occasion to commemorate those soldiers who gave their lives defending their country during the two world wars.
The cenotaph was surrounded by wreaths from the Maltese government, the diplomatic corps and veteran representatives. The music was low, sad and firm.
A plane soared past the cenotaph, reviving memories of the distant warring times.
All across Europe there are similar commemorations every year. Europe has truly learnt its lessons from the past and embarked on a road of reconciliation, integration and peace.
The nature was, however, completely different when Shinzo Abe, the Japanese Prime Minister, rpaid homage to the Yasukuni Shrine recently. It is no ordinary shrine to honour war victims. It houses the spirits of 14 Class-A war criminals who were among the 28 Japanese political and military leaders convicted by an international military tribunal after the Second World War. What we see here is an entirely different approach to history, one that is both twisted and disturbing.
Established more than 150 years ago, the Yasukuni Shrine was widely known for its infamous history of being exploited by Japanese militarists as a spiritual symbol to launch wars of aggression. In addition, it is deeply offensive to witness convicted war criminals being venerated. These were leaders found guilty of inflicting indescribable suffering on countless individuals during the war. Rightly, within hours of Abe’s visit, there were strong condemnations from China, South Korea and across the international community. Even America, Japan’s closest ally, issued a statement expressing its deep disappointment at the move.
Regrettably, what Abe did has raised the spectre of militarism rising again in Japan
Visits to the shrine by Japanese leaders cannot simply be an internal affair for Japan, or a personal matter for any Japanese official. Nor does it concern only China-Japan and Korea-Japan relations. Deep down, paying this kind of homage reveals whether Japan is trustworthy.
It raises serious questions about attitudes in Japan and its record of militarism, aggression and colonial rule.
Regrettably, what Abe did has raised the spectre of militarism rising again in Japan. Abe’s track record provides evidence. Since taking office in 2012, he has been talking enthusiastically about justice, democracy, peace and dialogue. But the reality is seen in his actions. He is unrepentant about Japan’s militarist past and makes no apologies for it. He has openly questioned whether his country should be defined as an “aggressor”, and did his utmost to beautify its history of militaristic aggression and colonial rule.
In May 2013, Abe caused great offence in China and Korea when he was photographed posing in a military jet boldly marked with the number 731: this was the code of an infamous Japanese biological warfare research facility performing human experiments in China during the war.
With these precedents, the world should be very alert. Abe wishes to amend the post-war pacifist constitution, imposed on Japan by the USA. Close attention should be paid to his colleagues, such as Taro Aso, the deputy prime minister, who asserted that Japan could “learn” from Nazi Germany about revising constitutions. Abe has worked hard to portray China as a threat, aiming to sow discord among Asia-Pacific nations, raising regional tensions and so creating a convenient excuse for the resurrection of Japanese militarism.
When visiting the site of the Potsdam Conference in Brandenburg, Germany last May, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said history is a mirror and only by facing it squarely can we embrace the future. The Second World War was concluded at the price of millions of lives. These lives underpin an international post-war order that must be upheld and should not be subject to sabotage or denial.
Any attempt to gloss over or glorify a history of fascist aggression is unacceptable to people in China, other Asian countries and beyond, and should not be tolerated by peace-loving people across the world.
Forty-three years ago, Willy Brandt, Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, knelt down in Warsaw to enable Germany to stand up as a normal and responsible player in Europe and the wider world. If Abe persists in denying the war-waging history, Japan will continue to kneel down under the weight of history.
Cai Jinbiao is the Chinese Ambassador.