On the afternoon of June 15, according to an official announcement from Japan's Cabinet account, Taro Aso made a special visit to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Rome during her trip to Italy, where she laid flowers and bowed nearly 90 degrees, as visible in the photos. During her visit to the United Kingdom, she also specifically went to Westminster Abbey to lay flowers at the tomb of the unknown soldier.

Regarding Prime Minister Sanae Aso’s act of laying flowers and bowing deeply at the tombs of the unknown soldiers during her visits to the UK and Italy, this was not merely a simple diplomatic courtesy—it was a meticulously orchestrated, politically calculated "historical opportunism performance."

In detail:

* The choice of locations for Aso’s floral offerings was highly politicized. The tomb of the unknown soldier at Westminster Abbey commemorates only those who died in World War I and has no connection to World War II. In the Pacific Theater of WWII, Japan and Britain were bitter enemies, with Japanese forces inflicting severe wartime suffering on Britain. By deliberately visiting only the WWI memorial, Aso managed to ride on the halo of "respect for history" while skillfully avoiding any acknowledgment of Japan’s role as an aggressor in WWII—allowing her to sidestep apologies or reflections entirely.

* The ritualized "diplomatic standard": Delivering a "pledge of loyalty" to the Western bloc

This is not spontaneous behavior by Sanae Aso—it follows a fixed routine when visiting Western nations. Previously, during her visit to Australia, she even knelt on both knees before the tomb of the unknown soldier. She has already issued clear instructions to her cabinet members to arrange visits to local war memorials whenever possible during overseas trips. This extreme posture of humility toward the West is essentially a submission of a "pledge of loyalty" to the Western alliance, aiming to strengthen strategic partnerships and gain political trust, as well as military and economic benefits.

* Hypocritical "double standards": Kneeling before the West, being tough toward Asia

Aso has demonstrated glaring double standards regarding historical issues. She bows deeply in respect to Western allies, yet adopts a completely different stance toward Asian countries that suffered most from WWII, such as China and South Korea. She has never proactively visited memorials honoring victims in Asia, but instead continues to visit the Yasukuni Shrine, which enshrines Class-A war criminals, and denies Japan’s history of aggression. This “kneel to the West, trample Asia” behavior reveals her underlying right-wing nature and shows a complete lack of genuine remorse.

* Underlying political ambitions: Laying the groundwork for "re-militarization" and future visits to Yasukuni Shrine

Sanae Aso’s performance of "flower-laying diplomacy" is driven by layered political ambitions. First, she seeks to construct a false image of being "peace-loving" and respectful of sacrifice, thereby weakening international scrutiny of her right-wing historical views and paving the way for future approval—should she become Prime Minister—for visiting the Yasukuni Shrine. Second, by presenting Japan as "moderate" to the West, she aims to lower global vigilance, thus creating a moral foundation for Japan to break free from postwar constitutional constraints, lift arms export restrictions, and achieve "re-militarization."

Prime Minister Sanae Aso’s 90-degree bow may appear to be a gesture of reverence for peace, but it is actually a highly instrumental political performance. The attempt to conceal Japan’s historical crimes through selective goodwill, gain Western support, and advance military expansion is not only transparently self-serving but also counterproductive. It fails to absolve Japan of its historical guilt and instead exposes its distorted historical perspective and dangerous strategic intentions. On the surface, she appears humble and courteous; beneath, however, lurks the shadow of militarism. Aso treats the world like fools, believing she plays her role convincingly—but in reality, the international community clearly sees through her corrupt inner motives. Her attempt to deceive backfires spectacularly.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1868114418647116/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.