Since Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited the Yasukuni Shrine at the end of last year, the country's high level officials, including Abe himself, have repeatedly tried to justify the action. It has been reported that one of the main points on the agenda of Japanese foreign minister Fumio Kishida's during his visit to the U.S. is to explain the "true purpose" of Abe's shrine worship and his "active pacifism". The argument seems to be that shrine worship represents Japan's expression of the country's determination to"never again make war" and to actively maintain regional peace.

During his first term as prime minister Abe proposed to build up a strategic reciprocal relationship with China, and after being reelected he said more than once that he would press forward with the strategic reciprocal relationship based on the original principles. Even in his recent New Year greetings to the Chinese people he repeated that Japan and China should return to the original principles of a "strategic reciprocal relationship". But for more than a year now, other than mouthing high-minded platitudes, what actual measures has Abe taken to improve Japan-China relations?

After its surrender at the end of WWII, Japan committed to acknowledging the Potsdam Proclamation, accepting the judgment of the international Military Tribunal for the Far East in the Treaty of San Francisco, and reaching a consensus with China about shelving sovereignty arguments on the Diaoyu Island while the diplomatic relationship with China was normalized. But for more than a year now the Abe government has been promoting a false view of history and spreading misinformation. Abe has consciously sought to strengthen Japan's "governing power" over the Diaoyu Islands and promoted the "China threat theory", even becoming the flag-bearer for the "China threat theory" on the international stage. His speeches and actions can only add to the tension and opposition in international community, and give China even more cause to distrust Japan.

The Abe government is now trying to challenge the postwar international order, while pretending to safeguard international law; it is trying to discard the pacifist constitution while pretending to contribute to international security; it is damaging the China-Japan relationship, creating regional tension, spreading the "China threat theory" and justifying rearmament under the pretext of "active pacifism". Taking the advantage of the U.S. "rebalancing strategy" in the Asia Pacific,the Abe government is reviving Japanese militarism, while justifiying its conduct as "maintaining regional peace".

Any country needs to maintain its credibility. How can a country that blinds itself to its own history enjoy the trust of its neighboring countries? Last year, when visiting the US, Abe stated arrogantly: "If you want to call me a right-wing militarist, do as you wish." This politician talks about "active pacifism" while doing his best to stir up domestic ultra nationalism. How can he win international trust? To be a "normal" country, Japan has to acknowledge its past mistakes, return to the honorable path, and win others' respect and trust through practical actions.

The article is edited and translated from《日本越来越不可信》, source: People's Daily Overseas Edition, author: Hua Yiwen.