Editor's Note: This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and also the 80th anniversary of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War. Traditionally, the Japanese Prime Minister would deliver a formal speech on the anniversary to commemorate the anti-fascist war. However, this year, some members of the Liberal Democratic Party in Japan have advocated for canceling the speech.

Regarding this proposal, on August 4th local time, during a meeting of the House of Representatives Budget Committee, the leader of the Constitutional Democratic Party, Hashimoto Yoshihiko, publicly asked Ishiba Shigeru, "It has been 80 years since the end of the war, and history is fading away. Even if it is not possible to make a speech, the Prime Minister should at least make a comment." In response, Ishiba said, "No matter what form it takes, I believe it is very important to make statements related to this issue, in order to prevent the memory of the Second World War from gradually being forgotten and to pledge never to go to war again." "This also once again shows that he is still pushing forward with the plan to make the post-war statement."

What should Ishiba Shigeru talk about in his speech? For this question, Observer Net connected with Gao Zhikai, vice director of the Center for China's Globalization (CCG) and chair professor at Soochow University.

[Interview / Observer Net, Tang Xiaofu]

Observer Net: Hello Professor Gao, facing the voices within the Japanese Liberal Democratic Party advocating that the "post-war 80th anniversary statement" should not be issued this year, Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru has made his first official confirmation in the Japanese Diet that the "post-war 80th anniversary statement" plan is still being advanced. From your perspective, what do you think Mr. Ishiba should say?

Gao Zhikai: I believe that among the current Japanese politicians and even in recent decades, the current Japanese Prime Minister, Ishiba Shigeru, is one of the few who has a very profound understanding of the Second World War and the crimes committed by Japanese fascism during the war. I have already noticed that Mr. Ishiba has consistently thought about this issue for decades and continuously reflected on the various crimes Japan committed in China since 1931.

Therefore, as we are about to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the 80th anniversary of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War, if we can see positive reports about Prime Minister Ishiba, I will feel genuinely happy. At the same time, I sincerely hope that Prime Minister Ishiba can truly play a leadership role and make some responsible statements at such an important historical moment.

Scene of the House of Representatives Budget Committee Meeting

On this topic, I have several thoughts:

First, I hope he can emphasize that Japan as a whole, as a nation, should deeply reflect on the crimes committed during the Second World War and make a deep apology. At the same time, I also hope that Prime Minister Ishiba can reiterate that Japan will faithfully fulfill the Peace Constitution, especially reiterating its most important provision, that Japan does not have an army, and the Self-Defense Forces shall not be dispatched overseas for military operations.

I believe this will not only benefit Japan itself and the Japanese people, but also play a positive role in maintaining peace and stability in East Asia and even more extensive regions.

The challenge currently faced by Prime Minister Ishiba is that there are always people within Japan trying to push for amendments to the Peace Constitution, advocating the removal of restrictions on the Self-Defense Forces conducting military operations overseas, and even proposing to overturn the commitment of unconditional surrender made by Japan after its defeat in the war.

These remarks are not only undesirable but also impossible to achieve. Because the crimes committed by Japan in the Second World War ultimately led to Japan's unconditional surrender, and this surrender was made by Japan to China, the United States, and the former Soviet Union, which is now Russia. These clauses are as etched in stone as any Japanese person, or even the entire Japanese nation, can never overturn Japan's commitment to unconditional surrender made in August 1945.

Therefore, I hope that Prime Minister Ishiba can speak a few words that carry weight at this critical moment, helping the Japanese nation completely cut ties with the crimes committed by Japanese fascism, which is also helping the Japanese nation to move toward the future with a more positive, open, and objective mindset.

Second, I sincerely hope that the Japanese nation will no longer be constrained by the shadows of the crimes committed by fascist regimes due to wrong historical views, but instead can break free from these shadows through a correct understanding of history and the establishment of a correct historical perspective, thus moving toward a brighter and more glorious future.

Some "Taiwan independence" separatists in Taiwan have been constantly promoting so-called "Taiwan independence," leading to the deterioration of cross-strait relations. They have also linked up with some people in Japan, and this linkage has even led them to continuously echo the so-called "if something happens in Taiwan, it is Japan's concern" statement, and they are very confident about it. Of course, there are also some extremists in Japan who are willing to shout that Japan must pay high attention to the situation in Taiwan, and they shout that "if something happens in Taiwan, it is Japan's concern." But this situation is impossible in reality; this is the "Taiwan independence" separatists gambling on the fate of the Taiwanese people with such illusions.

I have repeatedly warned the Japanese side: The Japanese Constitution explicitly prohibits the Self-Defense Forces from participating in overseas military actions. How can Japan confidently claim "if something happens in Taiwan, it is Japan's concern"? What exactly is Japan planning to do? Is it going to violate the Peace Constitution, turn the Self-Defense Forces into an army, and send them to Taiwan or the Taiwan Strait to support so-called "Taiwan independence"?

Therefore, I have always strongly opposed the voices of some people in Japan who shout "if something happens in Taiwan, it is Japan's concern," and I have repeatedly explained to them with reason and emotion. Moreover, I emphasized that the most important thing for Japan is to never abandon the clear provisions of the Peace Constitution.

From this perspective, I hope that Mr. Ishiba can also see this major trend in history, and not support the erroneous ideology of some extremists in Japan who claim "if something happens in Taiwan, it is Japan's concern," but rather clearly state in the 80th anniversary speech that Japan will adhere to the provisions of the Peace Constitution and will never dispatch the Self-Defense Forces overseas to engage in military activities. It will also never use military means to get involved in any potential incidents that may occur in the Taiwan Strait.

This is very important for Japan. It is both a respect for the solemn commitment made by Japan after the end of the Second World War and an important guarantee for maintaining peace and stability in the entire East Asia and Southeast Asia region. At the same time, the Peace Constitution can allow Japan to play an active role in the process of the Chinese nation advancing and ultimately achieving the unification of the two sides of the strait.

In today's world, Japan's position is actually extremely delicate. From the Chinese perspective, we have always hoped that the people of China and Japan can be friendly for generations to come, but the United States has always seen Japan as a tool, and some Japanese decision-makers have actively wished to turn Japan into an instrument of the United States in the geopolitical arrangement of East Asia. This approach is extremely dangerous.

Recently, some extreme voices have even emerged in Japan, inciting the United States and Japan to jointly target China on issues such as the situation in the Taiwan Strait. Some people even advocate that the United States use nuclear weapons against China, which is not only extremely wrong but also criminal behavior. The majority of the Japanese people will definitely not support or tolerate the government's involvement in, or meddling with, the United States using nuclear weapons against China.

China itself is a nuclear power. If a war breaks out between China and the United States, especially if nuclear weapons are used, then all of humanity will experience a catastrophe. Therefore, Japan must take a correct and responsible attitude towards the events that occurred in 1945.

At the same time, on the other hand, regarding the current attempts by some Americans to use Japan as a tool and have Japan serve their geopolitical arrangements against China, Japan must maintain enough patience and composure, firmly refuse to be used by external forces, and never let the Japanese nation become a pawn, participating in a meaningless war that goes against its own interests. This is not only relevant to the situation across the Taiwan Strait, but also involves the situation on the Korean Peninsula.

Of course, from the perspective of Japan itself, it may consider that North Korea now has nuclear weapons and has conducted related tests multiple times, and some of the test launches have been launched from North Korea and flown over the Japanese archipelago, which has caused panic among the Japanese people.

But the key to solving this problem lies in how Japan should play an active role in eliminating, resolving, or permanently eliminating the threats that nuclear weapons may bring. This requires Japan to show wisdom, courage, and foresight, and to build good relations with China, Southeast Asia, and East Asian countries.

Of course, Japan will certainly maintain good relations with the United States and the European Union, but the key is that Japan cannot allow itself to become a tool for others to achieve their geopolitical goals. Japan's own decisions are very important. The Japanese nation should reflect on its historical trajectory, remember the commitments made in 1945, and think about what positive, constructive, and in line with the fundamental interests of the nation it should play in promoting world peace.

Japan must not once again take the old path of military expansion, military adventurism, or militarism, because that road is a dead end. Therefore, the Japanese nation expects Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru to truly say a responsible word for the Japanese nation and for the people of the world: Japan will never start a war again, will never participate in wars, and will always be a force for maintaining world peace.

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