Seventy years after war’s end, feelings remain raw
Fine line: China and Japan say they want peace while building up their military
Compared with Europe, where Second World War commemorations are mostly historic retrospectives, Asia’s events remain poignantly about the region’s continuing rivalries.
The latest example was seen last Thursday in China, where a massive military parade was held to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the surrender of Imperial Japan and the end of the war in Asia.
There is no equivalent in Asia of the Elysee Treaty, agreed to in Paris in 1963 between former rivals France and West Germany. When then-leaders Charles de Gaulle and Konrad Adenauer signed the accord, it brought centuries of military and political conflict to an end, and set the foundations for what would eventually become the European Union. The agreement led to youth exchanges, the twinning of towns, regular highlevel meetings, and, perhaps most importantly, a common French-German schoolbook aimed at fostering a shared vision of history.
There is nothing even remotely similar in Asia. Both Tokyo and Beijing cling closely to their respective versions of history, and show no willingness to budge from what each sees as the truth of what happened during a bloody war that claimed millions of Chinese and Japanese lives. And it is obvious that emotions about the past are still raw.
Thursday’s parade included a 70-gun salute to signify the 70-year anniversary, as well as a seemingly endless convoy of tanks, trucks and missiles. Flights of fighter jets and helicopters took to Beijing’s blue skies (officials took drastic measures to reduce air pollution in the days leading up to the parade), and the marching of 12,000 troops along the city’s main thoroughfare sent a strong message, both domestically and abroad.
President Xi Jinping looks to signal the ascension of China’s military, and demonstrate that it is willing and able to defend the nation’s interests and dignity. But in his speech at the parade, Xi balanced the militaristic show of strength with an announcement that the People’s Liberation Army will reduce personnel by 300,000 in a bid to soften tensions. He also said that “China will never seek hegemony or expansion” or “inflict its past suffering on any other nation”.
The parade still raised eyebrows in Tokyo and Washington, and news of reductions in army personnel is unlikely to assuage neighbouring countries with which China has ongoing territorial disputes, such as Vietnam and the Philippines.
The lead-up to the Sept. 2 anniversary of the end to the war was always going to be contentious in East Asia. Last month, a speech and apology by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe about the war was just as carefully crafted as the parade in China last week. And for good reason: The collective eyes of Beijing, Seoul and Washington were all on Tokyo that day.
What makes events like the Beijing parade and Abe’s statement interesting to observers is that both countries are building up their militaries during a time of increasing tensions.
Beijing’s military display came as the Wall Street Journal reported that five Chinese military vessels are operating in international waters off the Alaskan coast. Japan’s parliament, meanwhile, is looking to reinterpret a part of its pacifist constitution to allow its Self-Defense Forces to come to the aid of an ally under attack. In May, Tokyo commissioned a new 24,000tonne warship, the largest ship in its navy since the Second World War.
At the same time, both China and Japan publicly state that they are committed to regional peace and stability, and that their growing military capabilities are combined with increased international awareness and responsibility. Both speak to an increased role in securing the seas, in protecting global shipping lanes, or in becoming more active global players in peacekeeping. It’s clearly a fine line to walk.