Japan Must Confront Its Occupation History

Evaluating history with a correct perspective and learning from it is the prerequisite for Japan's return to the international community after World War II. If Japan continues to go against the trend of the age in this regard, it will cut the branch on which it is mounted.

Japan declared unconditional surrender on August 15, 1945. The world has triumphed over fascism. The crimes committed by the Japanese militarists brought great disasters to the peoples of Asia.

Today, 77 years later, Japan needs to show the world that it evaluates history correctly with concrete steps by taking lessons from its own history of occupation, while Tokyo, on the contrary, is trying to create tension with the help of non-regional powers as well as gradually increasing its military expenditures.

Japan's repetition of historical mistakes has aroused the interest of both the countries of the region and the international community, as it undermines the peace and stability of the Asia-Pacific region.

Changes in Japanese politics in recent years show that Tokyo is trying to clear its history of militaristic occupation. While Japanese politicians frequently visit the Yasukuni Shrine where war criminals are found, they deny the fact that they are forcing women into "sexual slavery" in the countries they occupy. Some politicians in Tokyo are even willing to openly oppose the articles set out in the Cairo Declaration, Potsdam Declaration and Tokyo Case.

Constantly making provocative attempts on issues such as Diaoyu Island, Japan continues to pose a serious threat to the international order that emerged after the world's victory over fascism by distorting its history of occupation.

50 years of Japanese occupation in Taiwan

Japan's constant show on the Taiwan issue has also revealed its own malicious intent. In history, Japan illegally occupied Taiwan for 50 years and killed 600 Taiwanese in the process.

Some Japanese politicians claimed that the Taiwan issue was Japan's business. The Japanese government recently published its defense white paper. In the white paper, it was stated that the main part of China poses a military threat to Taiwan and Taiwan's presence is important for Japan's security.

Such statements have greatly damaged the political basis of the relationship between the two countries, contrary to Japan's commitments to China regarding Taiwan.

While the visit of US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan has been criticized by the international community, Japan is objecting to China's legitimate response by supporting the US violation of China's sovereignty.

Those who try to reverse historical trends eventually fail. Japan must immediately confront its own history and contribute to the maintenance of peace by respecting the security concerns of its neighbors.