Japan should genuinely reflect on its history of aggression, assume all of its due responsibilities and steadfastly pursue the path of peaceful development, said Bruno Guigue, a French scholar on international affairs.
To date, some Japanese politicians continue to visit the Yasukuni Shrine despite opposition from domestic public opinion, Asian neighbors, and the international community.
In an interview with China Radio International (CRI), Guigue said this fully exposes the Japanese government's lack of awareness regarding its historical responsibilities.
"This country, which played the role we all know during World War II through its leaders, has never truly acknowledged its responsibility for the suffering inflicted on neighboring countries, and Japanese leaders have never taken action. We would expect, and still expect today, the Japanese nation to undertake this work of recognition, clarification, and reflection on the role played by the Japanese state during the war, as this is the condition for true reconciliation with neighboring nations. At the same time, the recognition of a certain objective reality cannot be taught by ignoring the darkest pages of history. The Japanese nation must assume its full responsibilities, and unfortunately, we can only note that this is still not the case today," he said.
The Declaration by United Nations was signed in 1942, and this year marks the 80th anniversary of the founding of the UN. China was one of the initiators of the declaration and the first country to sign the UN Charter.
Guigue said that the UN is the "natural vehicle" for multilateralism, and China has become a major force in steadfastly upholding the international system with the UN at its core.
"Particularly commendable is the fact that China has consistently adhered to the rules since its initial participation in international institutions and has always shown respect for international law. Today, as we can clearly see, China is one of the main pillars on the international stage of this respect for international legality, without which there can be no real cooperation and development. It is precisely because it plays this peacemaking and stabilizing role. It was yesterday, and it is even more so today, the true bulwark of international law and the main player on the world stage of multilateralism, which is the real antidote to all forms of unilateralism and hegemony that we see today," said the scholar.
Japan should reflects on history of aggression, take due responsibilities: French scholar
