A photo of Japanese textbooks. /CGTN
A photo of Japanese textbooks. /CGTN
The Japanese government has approved a new version of its history textbooks that downplays Japan’s wartime atrocities, sparking strong dissatisfaction in several Asian countries. According to a global online survey by CGTN, 82.45 percent of global respondents strongly condemn the attitudes and practices of the Japanese government toward its history of aggression.
The new history textbooks adopted by the Japanese government contain several statements that are inconsistent with the facts, including denying its forced recruitment of “comfort women” during the period of colonial rule.
In the survey, 95.35 percent of the respondents called on the Japanese government to respect basic historical facts, adding that any attempt to cover up and embellish the history of aggression should be guarded against. “The country that created the modern history of genocide should put this part of history into the book in accordance with international law. History should be determined by facts, not by editors,” said a netizen on social media platform X.
A screenshot of the account of one of the respondents on X commenting on the Japanese government’s approval of a new version of its history textbooks. /@haroldt.c.477
A screenshot of the account of one of the respondents on X commenting on the Japanese government’s approval of a new version of its history textbooks. /@haroldt.c.477
According to the survey, 91.82 percent of global respondents believe Japan should be cautious with its history textbooks due to its past of invading neighboring countries. Meanwhile, 90.26 percent feel the Japanese government should apologize and compensate for its forced recruitment of “comfort women” and laborers. “Japan needs to take Germany’s example and confess to all its war atrocities, pay China, Philippines and Korea reparations and replace all their false history textbooks with the correct information on what evils Japan did,” another netizen said.
A screenshot of the account of one of the respondents on X commenting on the Japanese government’s approval of a new version of its history textbooks. /@johnsmith1953x
A screenshot of the account of one of the respondents on X commenting on the Japanese government’s approval of a new version of its history textbooks. /@johnsmith1953x
According to the poll, 89.19 percent of the respondents point out that the Japanese government has repeatedly approved the adoption of textbooks that glorify the crimes of Japan, which has become an important issue of political principle affecting Japan’s relations with Asia.
Another 69.47 percent of the respondents said historical issues have become a major obstacle to winning the international community’s trust for Japan. “The history of any country should follow the laws of nature; otherwise, it will lead to repeated mistakes and even aggression,” a netizen remarked.
A screenshot of the account of one of the respondents on X commenting on the Japanese government’s approval of a new version of its history textbooks. /@Mahmud Baymurov
A screenshot of the account of one of the respondents on X commenting on the Japanese government’s approval of a new version of its history textbooks. /@Mahmud Baymurov
The poll, published by CGTN in English, Spanish, French, Arabic and Russian platforms, received responses from 7,431 people in 24 hours.