KYODO




 

The Japanese government asked European and Asian countries to refrain from attending a military parade and other events that China will hold next month to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, diplomatic sources said Sunday.

Japan seeks to prevent China's interpretation of history from spreading, with the parade slated to be held in Beijing's Tiananmen Square on Sept. 3 to commemorate what Beijing calls its victory in the 1937-1945 "War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression" and the "World Anti-Fascist War."

According to the sources, Japan conveyed to other nations through its embassies abroad that China's commemorative events have anti-Japanese overtones, and that the participation of leaders should be carefully considered.

Prior to the events, China plans to host the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit for two days through Sept. 1 in Tianjin near Beijing. Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to attend the summit meeting and then the war anniversary events.

When China held a military parade for the 70th anniversary in 2015, Chinese President Xi Jinping said postwar generations "should be with correct historical views and take the lessons of history to heart."

The remark came after then Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said in a statement marking the war's end that generations born after the conflict must not become "predestined to apologize."

Abe and leaders from major Western countries did not join the 2015 parade.
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said last November he and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to foster "mutually beneficial" and "stable" relations when they held their first in-person talks in Peru.