An interesting article from CCTV, but not about demanding apologies. Got the title from the CCTV News newsfeed on WeChat which has the very same article with the same content, but under a different title. As a side note, the photos were also added from the article on WeChat.
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Netizens' words on China's trauma left by Japan
Japan deeply hurt Chinese people in in the 1930s and 1940s when it invaded China. Seventy years have passed since China won the war against fascism, but what are netizens saying about the trauma left by Japan?
On September 3, China will mark the 70th anniversary of the victory against Japanese aggression in World War II.
But history casts a long shadow, and even today the experiences of WWII continue affecting the bilateral relationship.
For many Chinese, the memories of the traumatic past continue to linger, as evident in the commemorative services held each year.
Often in the past, on social media in China, people’s anger has boiled over, with some calling for a boycott of Japanese products. But with time, the voices have become calmer and more rational.
"We shall not only remember the history, but also be reasonable. If we really love our country, don’t just curse Japan, it only makes us look childish. Instead we shall have cleaner streets, more civilized people and more reliable products. This is patriotism in its real sense," a netizen wrote.
Meanwhile, across in Japan, many netizens have been very vocal about how distortions of history at home have left people with little understanding of China and Korea’s frustrations with Japan.
For instance, a 26-year-old Japanese user on Reddit explained that for most of his compatriots, the information regarding Japanese war crimes during WWII is condensed to “maybe 1-2 pages combined in textbooks.”
Another user remarked how such a situation has meant that his father “doesn't understand why China and Korea can't stop complaining about the war.”
The distortions of history are largely because attempts by some right-wing Japanese officials who have sought to downplay or gloss over war-time atrocities, such as the Nanjing Massacre, the use of biological weapons and so-called “comfort women.”
Just this month, Japanese politician Toshio Tamogami publicly denied the Nanjing Massacre in an interview with the BBC, which triggered massive international backlash on Facebook.
So the question before today’s generation is how will the past affect our future? The choice, in that matter, lies in the decisions that people in both countries make in the present.
Perhaps this post by a Jewish-American social media user can offer a way forward: "I learned German, the language of a people who nearly wiped out mine. Why? The Germans of today have broken with the Germans of yesterday. If I could love Germany, then it is possible for the Chinese to love a future Japan.”
Netizens' words on China's trauma left by Japan - CCTV News - CCTV.com English
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Netizens' words on China's trauma left by Japan
Japan deeply hurt Chinese people in in the 1930s and 1940s when it invaded China. Seventy years have passed since China won the war against fascism, but what are netizens saying about the trauma left by Japan?
On September 3, China will mark the 70th anniversary of the victory against Japanese aggression in World War II.
But history casts a long shadow, and even today the experiences of WWII continue affecting the bilateral relationship.
For many Chinese, the memories of the traumatic past continue to linger, as evident in the commemorative services held each year.
Often in the past, on social media in China, people’s anger has boiled over, with some calling for a boycott of Japanese products. But with time, the voices have become calmer and more rational.
"We shall not only remember the history, but also be reasonable. If we really love our country, don’t just curse Japan, it only makes us look childish. Instead we shall have cleaner streets, more civilized people and more reliable products. This is patriotism in its real sense," a netizen wrote.
Meanwhile, across in Japan, many netizens have been very vocal about how distortions of history at home have left people with little understanding of China and Korea’s frustrations with Japan.
For instance, a 26-year-old Japanese user on Reddit explained that for most of his compatriots, the information regarding Japanese war crimes during WWII is condensed to “maybe 1-2 pages combined in textbooks.”
Another user remarked how such a situation has meant that his father “doesn't understand why China and Korea can't stop complaining about the war.”
The distortions of history are largely because attempts by some right-wing Japanese officials who have sought to downplay or gloss over war-time atrocities, such as the Nanjing Massacre, the use of biological weapons and so-called “comfort women.”
Just this month, Japanese politician Toshio Tamogami publicly denied the Nanjing Massacre in an interview with the BBC, which triggered massive international backlash on Facebook.
So the question before today’s generation is how will the past affect our future? The choice, in that matter, lies in the decisions that people in both countries make in the present.
Perhaps this post by a Jewish-American social media user can offer a way forward: "I learned German, the language of a people who nearly wiped out mine. Why? The Germans of today have broken with the Germans of yesterday. If I could love Germany, then it is possible for the Chinese to love a future Japan.”
Netizens' words on China's trauma left by Japan - CCTV News - CCTV.com English
