China Voice: Nationalism not China's weapon against Japan

Friday marks the 69th anniversary of Japan's unconditional surrender in World War II, a day when all Chinese remember tragedies that occurred during the Japanese occupation of their homeland.

China has so far commemorated the anniversary with several high profile events recalling its dark and humiliating past, including revealing a series of shocking confessions of war crimes committed against the Chinese by the Japanese during World War II.

From state leaders to spokespersons of the Foreign Ministry and Defense Ministry, tones over Japan's wrong moves have become tougher, especially on issues concerning China's national interests and regional peace.

No matter how outsiders see the changing attitude, such as labelling the move with "rising nationalism", China reacts to Japan's right-winged politics and provocations in a reasonable and rightful way, rather than trumpeting nationalism.

China had decades of friendly years with Japan after the two countries established formal diplomatic ties in 1972. Since 2012, the tie became strained as Japanese government and right-winged politicians kept passing China's bottom line on history-related issues, such as the "purchase" of parts of China's Diaoyu Islands.

Tokyo also attempted to deny the history and challenge post-WWII world order, and reinterpreted the pacifist Constitution for the right of collective self-defense last month.

Even on Friday, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe sent an offering to the notorious Yasukuni Shrine, and two ministers in Abe's cabinet visited the shrine, which honors 14 convicted Class-A Japanese war criminals from World War II and glorifies its history of aggression.

China, once again, voiced "firm opposition" to such kind of continued provocations. Its tough stance is to warn Japanese politicians not to go too far.

Indeed, nationalism rose from China's tragedies of being bullied by the West and Japan in late 19th century and brought to birth of the first nation state in China's history.

However, unlike Germany, Italy and Japan that fell prey to nationalism or ultra-nationalism in the last century, nationalism has not driven China to destroy, but helped the Chinese nation win independence and prosperity.

To view it in longer history, China has always taken an inclusive attitude toward other civilizations, cultures and religions, including the neighboring Japan and Korea.

Nationalism in China should be described as patriotism in a more accurate way. It's not a weapon against Japan, but a consequence of the wrongdoing of the Japanese government and politicians.