Pride comes before a fall

I forwarded this story about Korea and China’s unhappiness with Japan. It might get me lectured in the office for believing the biased foreign media, but whatever.

Overcoming the bitter memories of the 20th century’s wars and building a genuine partnership to ensure they are not repeated will require movement by both sides. Japan could withhold approval from school books that sanitise the awful truth about its wartime record; and it could offer more compensation to the victims of its past occupations. As for the Chinese, it would require a willingness to sanction a joint textbook commission in which historians would be free to examine the two countries’ past, a readiness to give up anti-Japanese propaganda, and a willingness to engage in serious negotiations about disputed waters.

I might be uncharitable here, but I doubt anti-Japanese propaganda, officially sanctioned or not, will go away while China still struggles with its economy, endemic corruption, and bank insolvency. China’s not alone in finding a convenient excuse when things are going poorly, but that doesn’t mean it’s okay.

• 11 Apr 2005