The Politics of Apology and Nanjing Massacre
The Politics of Apology and the Nanjing Massacre
History 2414-050: East Asia Since 1500
April 4, 2014
An apology given based on pride isn’t an apology, nor one given under duress. Such is the case with Japan and China. The Japanese have time and again expressed sympathy, remorse and many ministers have apologized for the 1937 Nanjing massacre, and other atrocities that the Chinese suffered during the Second Sino-Japanese War of World War Two, at the hands of the Imperial Japanese Army. Yet, considering the complex cultural ‘do’s and don’ts’ of each culture, the apologies have not been as ‘heartfelt’ or ‘sincere’ as they are made out to be. Many have even considered them ‘half an apology.’ Essentially, there has, as of yet, to be an apology that both China and Japan accept as appropriate for the situation, leading many to conclude that Japan’s attempts have failed time and again. Although scholars and the like agree on the premise of the Japan-China apology having failed, they are in disagreement over who or what is to blame for it. Some have asserted that Japan suffers from an “apology complex”, and hence, is to blame for the continuous failure of its apology. While others have contended that it is China’s nationalistic tendencies that have caused the downfall of any potential apology, as China’s elite have used nationalism as a tool to boost legitimacy than to heal their wounds. Although such arguments are proposed and may contain some potency, they are valid only in part, if at all. That said, this paper contends that the failure of the Japan-China apology is due in part to passion and in part to power, stemming from the Chinese side. On the one hand, China has still not fully come to grips with its tragic history under Japanese imperial rule, which has invoked an abundance of passion and emotion in them. On the other hand, in order to adequately reestablish itself as the supposed superior of Japan, China has embarked
History 2414-050: East Asia Since 1500
April 4, 2014
An apology given based on pride isn’t an apology, nor one given under duress. Such is the case with Japan and China. The Japanese have time and again expressed sympathy, remorse and many ministers have apologized for the 1937 Nanjing massacre, and other atrocities that the Chinese suffered during the Second Sino-Japanese War of World War Two, at the hands of the Imperial Japanese Army. Yet, considering the complex cultural ‘do’s and don’ts’ of each culture, the apologies have not been as ‘heartfelt’ or ‘sincere’ as they are made out to be. Many have even considered them ‘half an apology.’ Essentially, there has, as of yet, to be an apology that both China and Japan accept as appropriate for the situation, leading many to conclude that Japan’s attempts have failed time and again. Although scholars and the like agree on the premise of the Japan-China apology having failed, they are in disagreement over who or what is to blame for it. Some have asserted that Japan suffers from an “apology complex”, and hence, is to blame for the continuous failure of its apology. While others have contended that it is China’s nationalistic tendencies that have caused the downfall of any potential apology, as China’s elite have used nationalism as a tool to boost legitimacy than to heal their wounds. Although such arguments are proposed and may contain some potency, they are valid only in part, if at all. That said, this paper contends that the failure of the Japan-China apology is due in part to passion and in part to power, stemming from the Chinese side. On the one hand, China has still not fully come to grips with its tragic history under Japanese imperial rule, which has invoked an abundance of passion and emotion in them. On the other hand, in order to adequately reestablish itself as the supposed superior of Japan, China has embarked