The 90th anniversary of the September 18 Incident: facing history squarely is an unavoidable proposi

Original title: the 90th anniversary of the September 18 Incident: facing history is an unavoidable proposition in Japanese politics
If Japan wants to return to normal, it must give a clear statement of its past history of aggression.

▲ on September 18, 2018, don't forget the "9.18" bell ringing ceremony was held at the remnant Monument Square of the "9.18" History Museum in Shenyang, Liaoning Province. Photographed by Xinhua News Agency reporter Pan Yulong
Today is the 90th anniversary of September 18. 90 years ago today, the Japanese Kwantung Army deliberately made trouble and attacked Beidaying in Shenyang, opening the prelude to the 14 year war of resistance between the Chinese army and the people. This war made China pay a huge price and incalculable losses.
Today, history is a thing of the past, and the clouds are still swirling. At the time of the presidential election of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan and the election of the Japanese parliament, how to correctly treat the issue of aggression against China is not only a realistic problem in front of the new Japanese government in the future, but also an important proposition for Japan to integrate into the new international pattern.
Today's world is in a great change that has not been seen in a century. The reflection and reference of history is the premise to create the future. After the war, Japan has been seeking to become a so-called "normal country", trying to amend the constitution, and its foreign policy has been moving again and again. However, without a profound and thorough reflection on history and a sincere apology to the aggressod countries in East Asia, it will be difficult for Japan, which bears the historical responsibility, to open up a new situation.
90 years ago today, since taking the first step of the war of aggression against China, Japan has embarked on the spiral of expanding the war. From coveting Northeast China to invading China in an all-round way, Japan has caused profound disasters to China and East Asian countries. After Japan was defeated in the war and accepted the legal and moral trial, the domestic right-wing forces have not accepted the Tokyo Trial view of history. Some politicians even repeatedly visited the Yasukuni Shrine dedicated to class a war criminals, constantly touching the emotional bottom line of the people of China and other victimized countries. The Japanese government has never made a clear and consistent statement on the nature and responsibility of the war, let alone a sincere apology.

▲ on September 18, 2015, the "9.18" bell ringing ceremony was held at the "9.18" History Museum in Shenyang. Photographed by Xinhua News Agency reporter Pan Yulong
On September 17, the election of the president of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan confirmed the final four candidates, and some of them still made a high-profile statement that "they will continue to visit the Yasukuni Shrine". Earlier, in an interview with American media, Japanese defense minister Nobuo Kishi also said that he would "return ships to ships" for Chinese maritime police ships. The Chinese threat theory and the vague attitude towards history that have been pervasive in Japanese politics have added a trace of uncertainty to China Japan Relations after the birth of the new Japanese government. This is worrying.
The 90th anniversary of the "September 18" incident has passed. Japan's attitude towards the war of aggression against China and past history should no longer be ambiguous. It should have an attitude that can stand the scrutiny of justice and the people of the affected countries. Without a reflection on history and a sincere apology for the war of aggression, it will be difficult for Japan to gain the understanding of its neighboring countries, let alone the respect of the international community.
In fact, admitting mistakes and reflecting on history have long become a global trend. In this regard, Germany's performance can be regarded as an example of Japan. As early as 1970, Federal German Chancellor Brandt knelt in Warsaw in front of the monument to the Jewish victims in Poland and expressed Germany's sincere apology and repentance for World War II. In 2015, on the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, then German President Gauk publicly apologized in the prisoner of war camp in the capacity of German head of state, which also showed the world Germany's painful reflection on the history of aggression and sincere regret.
Since last year, the world's attention to the "black life is also life" movement, why is it not an examination and inquiry of the historical truth? In the United States, statues of Robert Lee, the commander of the Confederate army and regarded as the defender of slavery during the civil war, were pushed down one after another. The huge statue of his partner, Stuart, who was also a general of the Confederacy, was also demolished in Richmond. In Britain, even the statue of famous Churchill was asked to be overthrown because he had made racist remarks and recognized colonialism.

▲ on June 7, 2015, people visited the historical facts exhibition hall of Liaoning northeast Anti Japanese Federation to understand the history of Japanese militarism invading China. Photographed by Xinhua News Agency reporter Pan Yulong
Without facing history squarely, there will be no future for a nation. Over the years, due to the lack of reflection on history, Japan's domestic and foreign policies have always been drifting. Without a sincere apology to East Asian countries, Japan will have nowhere to put in East Asia and will be difficult to truly integrate into today's international community.
At this time of drastic changes in the pattern of great powers, especially when the geopolitical and economic pattern of East Asia is under reconstruction, Japan can really get out of the "post-war" and find its identity and feeling as an East Asian country only by facing up to history, and the "revenge" of history will not reappear in a certain time and space.
History will never be forgotten because of the cover up of the perpetrators. The victims and the international community have their own just judgments. Japan has made a clear statement about the aggressive wars launched in the past. Making the right choice of value is the beginning of its return to normality and the key to the smooth path of China Japan relations.
In this sense, the ringing of the "9.18" alarm bell not only reminds the Chinese people not to forget the painful history and cherish peace, but also urges Japan to face up to history and give an explanation to history again and again.
Author editorial
Editor He Rui
Proofreader Liu Jun