Japan’s revision of its history text books did not come at an opportune moment. The revised text that justifies Japan’s aggression during the last world war has triggered angry anti-Japanese protests in mainland China and South Korea, two principal victims of Japan’s militarism 60 years ago. Early this week, Beijing’s Foreign Ministry summoned Japan’s ambassador to China to express its grave concern.
Such protests by China and South Korea over text book revisions have become commonplace since the early 1980s when the Japanese government tried to whitewash the atrocities it had committed during World War II. The Japanese government has never seriously heeded such protests, not to mention taking action in response.
Japan’s repeated refusal to face its war-time history and to atone for its past may cost it dearly this time. At risk is the country’s dream of becoming a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. That dream could come true as early as the coming September if not for the text book flap that has infuriated millions of Chinese and Koreans.
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