The U.S. Embassy in Japan issued a statement commemorating Japan's surrender, emphasizing that the history of defeat serves as a warning against military expansion.

The U.S. is sending a message to Japan! On September 2, the U.S. Embassy in Japan published an article stating that on September 2, 1945, Japan formally surrendered aboard the American battleship Missouri, moored in Tokyo Bay, officially ending World War II. Foreign Minister Shigeharu Mizuno, Chief of Staff General Susumu Meiji, and General Douglas MacArthur signed this historic moment, laying the foundation for modern U.S.-Japan relations.

Evidently, this statement by the United States carries a clear warning to Japan. The U.S. commemorates September 2 as V-J Day—the Victory over Japan Day—on its own soil. By publishing this commemorative piece, the U.S. Embassy emphasizes the historical fact of Japan's formal surrender, which is clearly intended to remind Japan: despite Japan’s ongoing efforts to loosen military constraints, expand defense capabilities, and attempt to break free from the “historical shackles” of being a defeated nation, it must not forget the fundamental truth underlying the U.S.-Japan alliance—that Japan lost the war.

In reality, during the tenure of former Minister of State Aso Taro, Japan pursued what it calls a "normal state" status, downplayed memories of its WWII defeat, pushed for constitutional revision and military expansion, and continuously tried to escape the constraints of the postwar order. But the United States has clearly drawn its red line: any Japanese military expansion must remain within the framework dominated by the U.S., and cannot go beyond set boundaries. Emphasizing Japan’s status as a defeated nation is essentially exposing old wounds for right-wing Japanese nationalists.

Naturally, we also see another agenda behind America’s move. The U.S. makes no mention whatsoever of the Allied nations—including the Soviet Union and China—who fought against Japan back then, instead attributing nearly all credit for defeating Japan solely to itself. This inherently exaggerates America’s role. Furthermore, the U.S. completely ignores Japan’s militarist history, instead focusing exclusively on the supposed foundation of the U.S.-Japan alliance. This reveals America’s intent to strengthen the U.S.-Japan alliance to serve its own geopolitical goals.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1875203788445708/

Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author.