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While the Cairo Declaration tolled the bell for the Japanese imperialists 70 years ago, the great anti-fascist achievement still sounds an alarming note for the future of Japan.
As a laudable outcome of World War II, the Cairo Declaration issued on Dec. 1, 1943 by China, the United States and Britain remains a cornerstone to shape the post-war order of East Asia. Any attempt to challenge it is doomed to fail.
The Cairo Declaration stated in explicit terms that "all the territories Japan has stolen from the Chinese, such as Manchuria, Formosa, and Pescadores" shall be restored to the Chinese, and that "Japan will also be expelled from all other territories she has taken by violence and greed."
Two years later, the Potsdam Proclamation reaffirmed that "the terms of the Cairo Declaration shall be carried out." The Japanese government accepted the Potsdam Proclamation in the Japanese Instrument of Surrender.
In the China-Japan joint statement issued in September 1972, the Japanese government also promised to "earnestly implement Article 8 of the Potsdam Proclamation."
All of these facts show that the Diaoyu Islands, as affiliated islands of Taiwan, should be returned to China. However, with a colonialist mindset, the Japanese government is turning a blind eye to the international agreements by claiming that the islands are Japan's territory.
Disregard to the Cairo Declaration reveals that Japan has failed to examine its conscience and remains disappointingly unrepentant about its history of military fascism.
Moreover, as Japan is an ally with the U.S., it has continuously used the alliance as a shield to deny the outcome of the war against fascism and challenge the post-war international order.
Faced with the lack of momentum of "Abenomics" (the economic policies of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe) and rising social conflicts, the Japanese government is catering for rightists to seek support and even stirring up nationalism. It has also cited the so-called "China threat" as an excuse for its beefing up military muscle.
With an illusion of regaining regional hegemony, the authorities are continuously making provocative steps that have altered the status quo in the region, thus becoming the origin of the current tensions in the East China Sea.
History shall not be reversed. People across the world must not forget the sufferings incurred during World War II and must not be deceived by the performance of certain clowns on the Japanese political arena who want to stir up a row.
The Chinese government and its people have the firm resolve to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Committed to common development and prosperity with its neighbors, China will never give way to a bullying Japan as it did more than 80 years ago.
As for Japan, those proactive acts may be supported by its allies that bear selfish interests, but can never get approval from the international community.
Japan's row with its neighbors is escalating and casting a shadow over the future of East Asia. Japan must face history squarely as Germany did and eliminate the genes of militarism and fascism. Otherwise, it will become an isolated country without a future.