China’s top legislature has ratified two new national days, one to mark victory in the war against Japanese aggression and the other to commemorate victims of the Nanjing Massacre.
September 3 will mark Victory Day and December 13 will be the national memorial day for massacre victims. The decision was made by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress. The committee says this is to remember the harm caused to the Chinese people, convey China’s stance against aggression, safeguard human dignity and preserve world peace.
China’s Defense Ministry says there have always been forces in Japan who want to reverse historical judgments and challenge the post-war order. China urges Japan to reflect on its actions and face up to history.
“The reason we remember history is not for hatred. The World War II is in the past and history has already made verdict on Japan’s wartime aggression. So why do some people in Japan still want to overturn that historical verdict, and still visit the Yasukuni shrine, offering sacrifices to class A war criminals. We urge Japan to face up to and reflect on its post-war responsibility, and to earn the trust of its Asian neighbors and the international community through concrete actions, instead of making irresponsible remarks about normal commemorations in countries that were victims of war,” said Yang Yujun, spokesman of Chinese Ministry of National Defense.
