Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

China steps up patriotism campaign(victory celebration turns into anti-Japanese event.
Asahi Shimbun ^ | 07/08/05 | YUSAKU YAMANE

Posted on 07/10/2005 5:07:02 AM PDT by TigerLikesRooster

China steps up patriotism campaign

07/08/2005

By YUSAKU YAMANE, The Asahi Shimbun

BEIJING-Strong anti-Japan sentiment in China has prompted Beijing to change course and embark on a wide-scale patriotism campaign for events marking the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II.

Chinese Communist Party sources said during the planning stages at the beginning of the year that most of the events would be focused on the victory over fascism, much in line with the tone of similar events in the West.

However, worsening relations with Japan, triggered in part by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's visits to the war-related Yasukuni Shrine, have led to increased anti-Japanese sentiment among the Chinese population.

Various events are now being planned around China to provide an outlet for such sentiment.

"Out of consideration for public sentiment, the government has been forced to embark on a large-scale patriotism campaign," a researcher at a government think tank in Beijing said.

But at the same time, China's leaders have to carefully gauge emotions to prevent a repeat of the violent anti-Japanese protests that occurred in April.

During those incidents, the Japanese Embassy in Beijing as well as consulates-general around China were pelted with rocks and bottles by protesters opposed to Japan's bid of becoming a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council.

The first in the series of events marking milestones in China's war with Japan came Thursday.

A museum built on the site of the Marco Polo Bridge has been renovated at a cost of 50 million yuan (about 650 million yen) and was reopened to the public on Thursday.

Located about 30 kilometers southwest of central Beijing, the museum now commemorates the Chinese people's battle against Japan.

On July 7, 1937, the Marco Polo Bridge Incident broke out, triggering Japan's war with China that lasted until 1945. Japanese troops on a night patrol were fired upon. Believing Chinese forces were behind the shooting, Japanese troops began attacking those forces the following day.

A special exhibition at the museum titled "The Great Victory" marks the 60th anniversary of the end of the war and features 800 historical documents, 600 photographs and 40 tables and charts.

Models are also on display depicting the site of the Liu Tiao Hu Incident, which triggered the Manchurian Incident, as well as a laboratory of the Imperial Japanese Army's Unit 731, infamous for its biological experiments in China.

In addition, the renovated museum displays a calligraphy piece by former Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama that says, "Facing up to history, I pray for Japan-China friendship and for eternal peace."

The Chinese leadership is planning similar exhibitions and events through the summer as other commemorative dates come up.

The climax is expected to arrive during a ceremony Sept. 3 marking both the victory over Japan as well as the defeat of fascism. Communist Party leaders are expected to attend that ceremony. The date is one day after Japan signed documents surrendering to the Allied forces.(IHT/Asahi: July 8,2005)


TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: antijapanese; china; japan; victorycelebration; wwii

1 posted on 07/10/2005 5:07:03 AM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: TigerLikesRooster; maui_hawaii; tallhappy; Dr. Marten; Jeff Head; Khurkris; hedgetrimmer; ...

Ping!


2 posted on 07/10/2005 5:07:41 AM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TigerLikesRooster

Next stop.... Concentration camps, war, and genocidal conquest.


3 posted on 07/10/2005 5:20:59 AM PDT by coconutt2000 (NO MORE PEACE FOR OIL!!! DOWN WITH TYRANTS, TERRORISTS, AND TIMIDCRATS!!!! (3-T's For World Peace))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TigerLikesRooster

So lets get this straight.China hates Japan and wants Taiwan back and is a superpower, North Korea wants South korea back.There's notihng to see here, move along.For a dollar I'll throw in that Russia and China are buddies and want to help Iran get stocked up who just elected a real nice guy as Pres.Like I said nothin' to see here.People better wake the #%$@ up.


4 posted on 07/10/2005 5:58:02 AM PDT by VaRepublican
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TigerLikesRooster
Chinese Communist Party sources said during the planning stages at the beginning of the year that most of the events would be focused on the victory over fascism,

Out of the fascist frying pan where 10~20M died, and into the Communist fire where another 30~50M died. What's to celebrate?

5 posted on 07/10/2005 6:08:42 AM PDT by DTogo (U.S. out of the U.N. & U.N out of the U.S.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TigerLikesRooster

does this have any bearing on the Russian oil pipeline going to China and bypassing Japan?

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1440082/posts?page=1


6 posted on 07/10/2005 7:05:41 AM PDT by nw_arizona_granny (http://bernie.house.gov/pc/members.asp Meet YOUR Communist party members in Congress)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TigerLikesRooster
"...worsening relations with Japan, triggered in part by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's visits to the war-related Yasukuni Shrine."

I hate this kind of of horse-****. HS is like BS, but smellier. Yasukuni is simply an excuse for China (the ChiComs) to beat the drum of anti-Japanese hatred. They're trying to intimidate the Japanese from supporting Taiwan, from supporting the US and from pressuring the NorKs.

7 posted on 07/10/2005 7:29:10 AM PDT by Jabba the Nutt (Jabba the Hutt's bigger, meaner, uglier brother.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TigerLikesRooster

If this keeps up

Occidentals will be going in to get their eyes slanted

Who knew?


8 posted on 07/10/2005 9:04:04 AM PDT by joesnuffy (Does the Red Crescent have falafel dollies?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson