During a visit to South Korea last July, President Xi Jinping highlighted not only the two countries’ deepening economic relationship, but also their shared views regarding Japan’s wartime past. Other Chinese officials have picked up the theme, dropping hints that China’s 70th anniversary celebration of the end of World War II could exclude Japan – unless, that is, Japan is more contrite about its historic transgressions.
中国渴望利用日本和韩国之间的嫌隙破坏美国在亚洲的安全利益。去年7月访韩期间，中国国家主席习近平不但强调两国深刻的经济关系，还强调了两国对日本侵略史的共同观点。其他中国官员也在此问题上大做文章，暗示中国纪念二战结束70周年的仪式将排除日本——除非日本就其历史罪行做出忏悔。