Japan has never made effort to reflect its past

BERLIN, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Japan has never made an effort to face up to its wartime crimes, which may be the real reason behind its repeated rows with neighbors, German daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung said in an article on Wednesday.

The article, which detailed the background behind recent tensions over the Diaoyu Islands between Tokyo and Beijing, said Japan argues that China lays claim to the islands because of the rich oil and gas resources in surrounding waters.

But for the Chinese, it said, the islands are a symbol of humiliation caused by Japan's occupation.

The newspaper also noted that the demonstrations were staged in China on Tuesday to mark the 81st anniversary of the "Sept. 18 incident," which was used as an excuse for the Japanese invasion of China's northeast, formerly known as Manchuria.

Air raid sirens also wailed in numerous cities across China on Tuesday, including in Shenyang, capital of China's northeastern province of Liaoning, where the incident took place.

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