How Long is Long Enough?

[ReluctantSamurai]

It's been nearly 70 yrs since the hostilities of WWII ended, and most of the major combatants, some who were mortal enemies, have made their peace and moved on. Some surviving US vets have made the pilgrimage to Iwo Jima and shared memories and comradie with former IJA vets, yet both were once engaged in some of the most brutal and inhuman combat of the war. Similar stories can be found amongst former ETO combatants of Germany, USA, UK, and the Soviet Union.

So why, after all this time, can the Chinese and Japanese not reach that place of letting go of past atrocities committed by people long dead, and move on?

http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-25411700

Ma Licheng, who used to write for China's state-owned People's Daily newspaper, says he has counted 25 apologies from Japan to China overall. But none of these - nor Japan's financial aid to China, amounting to 3,650bn yen ($35.7bn; £21.8bn) over the years - have been covered in the Chinese media, he says, or taught to children at school.

"What Japan did in China during the war was horrible," Ma wrote in his book Beyond Apologies. "But demanding that they kneel on the ground is pointless. The wording of the Japanese apologies may not seem enough to us, but to them, they were a huge step so we have to accept them and move on."

Thoughts?

[Sarmatian]

I believe they were close to letting it go, but the recent overlapping claims, Abe's visit to controversial shrine and general nationalistic tendencies are heating things up needlessly.

[rajpoot]

I believe they were close to letting it go, but the recent overlapping claims...are heating things up needlessly.

This.
I don't know if China's agenda is as crude as it appears but they seem to have a very hypocritical approach (even more so than other nations) towards placing claims and military development.
They've been on loggerheads with Japan, specially since of late Japan has increased its defence budget, which I believe is in direct response to China trying to strongarm its way in SE Asia.
In such a situation China just needs reasons to condemn Japan, to try and show them down in the international community.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

Firstly, this being Valentine's day, and the "world politics" categorizer not appearing on the off topic forum group, I was expecting an ENTIRELY different thread....


I also think we would have a hard time, aside from Israel/Palestine, finding a conflict that was both that protracted and that vicious. It was all of the atrocity of the Eastern Front in the West, but it started 10 years earlier and lasted a few months longer. Add into that the million plus Chinese casualties -- er volunteer casualties -- in Korea (which I suspect China considers a ramification of the Japanese conquest of that region and its post-war demarcation) and you see a long trail of grievances China perceives. Japanese sentiment -- whatever we did, we have atoned as the only nation ever to be actively nuked; having virtually all of out cities eradicated; and having our cultures and norms shattered and re-made -- has trended towards "let's move on." The sentiments do not match.

Plus, while not expert on Asiatic languages, I am given to understand that both languages delineate two terms for people: Chinese/Japanese as a self referent and "barbarian" for other referent. Not a good start.

[Greyblades]

What doesnt help is that, while japan's atrocities were arguably greater than nazi germany's, they were never shamed for it while occuped by the americans and never gained the stigma germans have now about hyper-nationalism. Apparantly japan consider thier ancestors sacred and shaming them would have made the american occupation more difficult.
Because of this the japanese, thier politicians and media in particular, have a disconserting habit of glossing over thier war atrocities, or even glorifying it, which understandably does little good for thier post war relations.

[Sp4]

Came expecting a discussion about penis sizes, left disappointed.

[Fisherking]

What doesnt help is that, while japan's atrocities were arguably greater than nazi germany's, they were never shamed for it while occuped by the americans and never gained the stigma germans have now about hyper-nationalism. Apparantly japan consider thier ancestors sacred and shaming them would have made the american occupation more difficult.
Because of this the japanese, thier politicians and media in particular, have a disconserting habit of glossing over thier war atrocities, or even glorifying it, which understandably does little good for thier post war relations.

There is truth in what you say but the issue is one of the Chinese Government.

Japan is turning into their bugbear. It is a convenient distraction and supports expansionist policies.

China has some 500 million people living in new found prosperity in its cities but it still has more than 800 million living in the countryside in absolute poverty. It is doing little to make their lives better and in many way they are making it worse.

Putting a focus on an evil neighbor and how they should be punished takes a little pressure off of themselves. China has had a number of scandals that involve high government officials or their families. Dredging up old wounds from the past is just a good way to drop out of the daily topic of discussion and instill a bit of nationalist fervor for good measure.