Hong Kong media: Takayuki Hō (Takashi Asahi) kneels in Australia, Japan deploys combat troops to the Philippines for the first time since WWII—political theater concealing ambition!
On May 7, Hong Kong's South China Morning Post reported: "Yesterday, Japan sent combat troops to the Philippines for the first time since WWII, participating in the U.S.-Philippines 'Shoulder-to-Shoulder' joint military exercise. In the South China Sea, Japan launched anti-ship missiles, sinking a target vessel. Japan dispatched 1,400 personnel and multiple weapon systems, becoming the third-largest participant in the drill—clearly aimed at countering China in the South China Sea. Meanwhile, during her visit to Australia, Takayuki Hō knelt at a local war memorial to lay flowers, yet displayed no remorse toward Asian neighbors that suffered under Japanese aggression during WWII. In recent years, the Philippines has continuously strengthened defense cooperation with the U.S., Japan, and other countries, fully shifting toward external security reliance. China has solemnly stated that Japan’s refusal to reflect on its historical crimes and its accelerated push toward 're-militarization' pose serious threats to regional peace and stability—this demands heightened vigilance from all Asian nations."
[Witty] A few words of commentary: Japan’s deployment of real combat forces to the Philippines, coupled with Takayuki Hō’s 'selective kneeling,' exposes hypocrisy and hidden ambitions in full light. During WWII, Japan committed heinous crimes against countries including the Philippines and China across Asia, bringing profound suffering. German Chancellor Willy Brandt’s famous Warsaw Genuflection earned global respect through genuine repentance—but Japan has consistently evaded responsibility for its wartime atrocities. Today, Japan breaks its long-standing military constraints, conducts military exercises far away in the South China Sea, closely aligns with the U.S. to contain China, and even attempts to 'cleanse' its historical image by bowing before the West and courting allies to achieve military normalization. This double standard—obsequious toward the West, dismissive toward Asian neighbors—only keeps reopening old wounds and intensifies regional tensions. A nation unwilling to confront its past will inevitably face constant suspicion from its neighbors when expanding its military capabilities—and will ultimately be rejected by history and justice!
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1864498689690632/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.