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Hiroshima shouldn't act as shield for Japan's misery

Editor: Li Kun 丨CCTV.com

04-12-2016 15:41 BJT

By Hou Jun, a doctorate researcher of International Relations, China Foreign Affairs University

The G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting was held in Hiroshima, Japan on April 10-11.

Tokyo has made much effort to select it as a host city. For years, Tokyo has been holding major international conferences at cities that have endured nuclear explosions, and inviting state top leaders to visit them. 

The convening of this G7 conference has fulfilled Tokyo's long-cherished wish. Nevertheless, Tokyo should not forget its perpetrator role in World War II. So far, Tokyo hasn't showed sincerity to confront its aggression history.

Consistent propaganda depicting its injured-nuclear history aims to evade its historical responsibility. The G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Hiroshima is considered a mournful reminiscence, exploited by Tokyo.

Tokyo had set the agenda to showcase Japan's image as an injured-nuclear country to the international community. 

Tokyo has placed nuclear-related issues, including inviting G7 ministers to visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park on the agenda, and showing interviews of five descendants of atomic bomb victims, publishing the Hiroshima Declaration to highlight Tokyo's determination to endorse nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.

In fairness, Japan was the only country to have suffered a nuclear explosion. The Japanese have paid much sacrifice over the aggression launched by Japanese militarists.

It's understandable to pay homage and commemorate its history at major international conferences, but Tokyo has ulterior motives as well.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's government holds double standards on historical issues, shirking responsibility for the war, and denying the legitimacy and legality of the US' atomic bomb striking Japan. Political calculations make the Hiroshima G7 meeting a painful reminiscence conducted by Tokyo.

Hiroshima was selected to reflect its significance. The publication of the "Hiroshima Declaration" and demonstrating Japan's nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation to the community among injured-nuclear victims could improve Tokyo's influence in the international community to establish a glorious image.

Ironically several days ago, a statement by the government on April 1 said the Constitution does not ban Japan from harboring nuclear weapons. A member of Japan's Parliament claimed the statement was a misinterpretation of the constitution, but does reflect Tokyo's real aims to become a nuclear weapons state.

The G7 Summit Meeting venue was originally scheduled for Hiroshima, but faced Washington's opposition Tokyo had to change the meeting to a foreign ministers' meeting, which was deemed a downgrade. The venue for the G7 summit was changed to Ise-Shima, but serving as an illusory change.

Washington, despite being a close ally to Tokyo, remains vigilant against Tokyo's real intentions to evade historical responsibility, coloring up its victims, attempting to reverse the verdict of aggression by claiming victimhood.

During the NPT review conference and the United Nations General Assembly last year, Tokyo had called for visits to nuclear explosion cites by global leaders, but was challenged by major opposition.

The international community's actions have indicated Tokyo's overturning attempt to its aggression and confusion of historical responsibility had been unpopular practices. Its consistent coloring up victims cannot deny the numerous crimes committed by Japanese militarists.

Hou Jun, a doctorate researcher of International Relations, China Foreign Affairs University

 

( The opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Panview or CCTV.com. )

 

 

Panview offers a new window of understanding the world as well as China through the views, opinions, and analysis of experts. We also welcome outside submissions, so feel free to send in your own editorials to "globalopinion@vip.cntv.cn" for consideration.

Panview offers an alternative angle on China and the rest of the world through the analyses and opinions of experts. We also welcome outside submissions, so feel free to send in your own editorials to "globalopinion@vip.cntv.cn" for consideration.

 

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