Japan must change course on the 80th anniversary of its surrender, editorial warns. Global Times

247 - On August 15, 2025, Japan marked the 80th anniversary of its unconditional surrender in World War II. The date, which should have been a moment of reflection and remembrance, was marked by gestures that reignited regional tensions. According to an editorial. published by Global TimesJapanese cabinet members and Liberal Democratic Party parliamentarians visited the Yasukuni Shrine, where Class A war criminals are honored, reinforcing the revisionist stance of sectors of Japanese politics [source: Global Times].

The Chinese newspaper criticizes the Japanese government's ambiguity regarding the country's militaristic past, describing a process of "selective amnesia" and "systematic revision" of history that even affects new generations. "In Tokyo, young people see Yasukuni as an ordinary shrine, unaware that it houses war criminals or of its symbolism as a relic of militarism," the publication reports.

The problem of historical memory

The editorial notes that Japan has never conducted a full self-criticism of its war crimes, especially after the Cold War, when the rise of political conservatism fueled historical revisionism. One example cited is the lack of knowledge among Japanese students about the atrocities committed by Unit 731, responsible for human experimentation during the war, even though they live near museums that hold evidence of these practices.

According to Global TimesThis distorted view of the past is not limited to the domestic sphere. It translates directly into Japanese foreign policy, especially in relations with China. Defense White Paper 2025 He was criticized for exaggerating the so-called "Chinese threat" and for justifying the increase in the military budget with the development of offensive weapons and a shift from a "defense-only" strategy to a more aggressive posture.

The Taiwan issue and the risk to international order.

Another point of contention highlighted is the issue of Taiwan. According to the Chinese newspaper, Japan has overstepped its bounds by sending signals of support for independence movements, violating the "One China" principle and the four political documents governing bilateral relations. "Behind these actions lies a disregard for the post-war international order, which established the return of the island of Taiwan to China," the editorial emphasizes.

The result, according to the publication, is a dangerous escalation for regional stability. "These strategic judgments, rooted in a misguided view of history, are pushing China-Japan relations into a dangerous situation and represent serious challenges to regional peace and stability," it warns.

Lessons from Wang Yi and the path to reconciliation.

The text also quotes Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China, who summarized the issue in straightforward terms: "Only by confronting history head-on can one earn respect; only by learning from history can one build a better future; only by remembering the past can one avoid falling down the wrong path again."

For Global TimesThe future of regional relations depends on Tokyo's political courage to break with revisionism and fully acknowledge its historical responsibility, as established in the 1995 "Murayama Declaration."

The editorial argues that Japan should:

•  Reject historical revisionism and acknowledge its war crimes;
•  To prevent the erosion of historical memory by combating denials such as that of the Nanjing Massacre;
•  Abandon militarization based on the idea of ​​a "Chinese threat" and respect the One China principle.

The text concludes by reminding us that the future of Japan and Asia depends on a clear choice: "If Japan wants future generations to be 'free from predestined excuses,' it must first abandon the misguided path of historical revisionism."