Second Sino-Japanese War

The Second Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945) was a major invasion of eastern China by Japan preceding and during World War II. It ended with the surrender of Japan in 1945. In Chinese, the war is variously known as the Chinese People's Anti-Japanese War of Resistance (????????), Anti-Japanese War of Resistance (????), War of Resistance (??), or Eight Years' War of Resistance (????).

Legacy

To this day the war is a major point of contention between (both People's Republic and Republic of) China and Japan.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

A small but vocal group of Japanese nationalists and/or right-wingers deny a variety of crimes attributed to Japan. The Japanese invasion of its neighbours is often glorified or whitewashed, and wartime atrocities, most notably the Nanjing Massacre, comfort women, and Unit 731, are frequently denied by such individuals. The Japanese government has also been accused of historical revisionism by allowing the approval of school textbooks omitting or glossing over Japan's militant past.

Related Topics:
Nanjing Massacre - Comfort women - Unit 731 - Historical revisionism

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In the PRC, citizens are frequently reminded of the exploits of the heroes of the Anti-Japanese War of Resistance. In its response to global criticism of Japanese textbook revisionism, the PRC government has been accused of using this incident to stir up already growing anti-Japanese feelings to whip up nationalistic sentiments and divert its citizens' minds from internal matters.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

But political issue or not, the war remains a major roadblock for Sino-Japanese relations today, and many people, particularly in China, harbour grudges over the war and related issues.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~