International experts have urged Japan to formally apologize to China for its historical crimes and wrongful statements by its Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
Stephen Brawer, chairman of the Belt and Road Institute in Sweden, said Takaichi's recent provocative remarks signaled that Japan's old militarist forces are reviving, which is detrimental to regional and global peace.
"These forces are being activated. The old militarist forces, which rather than being activated, what is necessary in my view is an apology, a public apology from the Japanese government," he said.
At a Diet meeting on Nov. 7, Takaichi claimed that the Chinese mainland's "use of force on Taiwan" could constitute a "survival-threatening situation" for Japan and implied the possibility of armed intervention in the Taiwan Strait.
Itumeleng Makgetla a South African political and international relations analyst, said the Japanese side must learn the lessons of history and clarify its position on the Taiwan question.
"When we look at the history between China and Japan leading up to the WWII, the imperial government of Japan, the massacre that happened has not even been resolved. The claims that China has on Taiwan, I think they have put up a a very credible and convincing argument that this is their territory. It has been in history," he said.
Diana Larry, a professor emerita of history at the University of British Columbia in Canada, said historical issues cannot be avoided or evaded, and Japan must confront history squarely.
"It's sad to say that Japan has remembered the atomic bombs, but not what happened in China. Germany has apologized repeatedly. Whatever reason the Japanese haven't been able to, I think that has to happen first. I still hope it will come that the Japanese will have a new understanding of that period. It will make things much easier to deal with at present," she said.
Japan urged to apologize for historical crimes, PM's wrongful statements
Amid the rubble and relentless hardship of the Gaza Strip, a young displaced musician refuses to let war silence his strings, playing every day to bring fleeting moments of joy to those around him.
Samih Al-Madhoon, a resilient young performer who is still only 18-years-old, has been left displaced at the Al-Shati Camp in Gaza, but his love for music burns strongly and gives him a sense of hope for the future, despite whatever challenges lie ahead.
The Israel-Hamas conflict saw him lose his home and most of the things he held dear in life, including having to leave behind his beloved musical instrument.
"I tried to stay consistent with my playing and my talent, and to stay continuing in this path, but unfortunately during this period of displacement I lost my oud. I lost my instrument, and I lost many things that belong to me in music. And I lost [the ability to play] musical notes," he said. However, when he finally returned to playing, holding his cherished oud in his hands once more, he said he cried at once again being able to express himself through music.
Al-Madhoon has continued his musical career with a sense of determination, persistence, and talent that belies the chaos he has witnessed all around him.
He said he wants to use his music to comfort his peers who are currently living in harsh conditions, and he is seen regularly performing to others as he looks to ease people's pain all around him.
"Through music, I deliver my voice and the voice of the people of Gaza Strip, and the people of Palestine in general, that we are people who love life and peace. During this period, during the war, I play to comfort them, to make them a little happier, and to change their mood," he said.
The young performer still hopes that he will be able to live a peaceful life and perhaps one day get the chance to pursue his musical dreams on bigger stages, instead of amid the ruins and rubble of the destroyed streets of Gaza.
"My wish is to live in safety and peace, build new houses for us, rebuild the home, rebuild my memories with music, return to learning music, and to be on big stages. And I hope that I can leave to complete my studies outside the Gaza Strip and become a maestro in music," he said.
Gaza musician bravely keeps on playing to deliver sounds of joy amid devastation
