China observed a subdued memorial service for the 1937 Nanjing Massacre, with President Xi Jinping absent from the occasion. The event marked a somber anniversary of the massacre in which China accuses Imperial Japan's troops of slaughtering an estimated 300,000 people in Nanjing. This event is widely disputed by conservative Japanese politicians and scholars who claim that no massacre took place.
China and Japan have long-standing tensions over their tumultuous history, particularly with regards to Taiwan. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has further inflamed the situation by stating that a hypothetical Chinese attack on Taiwan could trigger a military response from Japan. Beijing views Taiwan as its own territory, claiming it will be unified with the mainland in the future.
The ceremony was characterized by relatively measured remarks from Shi Taifeng, head of the Communist Party's Organisation Department. He emphasized that any attempts to revive militarism or challenge the international order are unacceptable and doomed to fail. The tone is a departure from recent rhetoric from Chinese officials who have accused Japan of seeking to revive its history of militarism.
In response to Takaichi's remarks, China has taken a series of retaliatory measures, including banning Japanese seafood imports, restricting cultural events involving Japanese performers, and even urging citizens not to travel to Japan. Beijing has also traded accusations with Tokyo, with the two countries trading barbs over issues such as missile deployment on an island near Taiwan.
The dispute highlights the deep-seated tensions between China and Japan over their shared history and territorial claims. The situation remains volatile, with both sides employing a range of diplomatic measures to press their cases.
China and Japan have long-standing tensions over their tumultuous history, particularly with regards to Taiwan. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has further inflamed the situation by stating that a hypothetical Chinese attack on Taiwan could trigger a military response from Japan. Beijing views Taiwan as its own territory, claiming it will be unified with the mainland in the future.
The ceremony was characterized by relatively measured remarks from Shi Taifeng, head of the Communist Party's Organisation Department. He emphasized that any attempts to revive militarism or challenge the international order are unacceptable and doomed to fail. The tone is a departure from recent rhetoric from Chinese officials who have accused Japan of seeking to revive its history of militarism.
In response to Takaichi's remarks, China has taken a series of retaliatory measures, including banning Japanese seafood imports, restricting cultural events involving Japanese performers, and even urging citizens not to travel to Japan. Beijing has also traded accusations with Tokyo, with the two countries trading barbs over issues such as missile deployment on an island near Taiwan.
The dispute highlights the deep-seated tensions between China and Japan over their shared history and territorial claims. The situation remains volatile, with both sides employing a range of diplomatic measures to press their cases.