Xi says ready to work with Trump to build solid foundation for bilateral ties

 

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with U.S. President Donald Trump in Busan, South Korea, Oct. 30, 2025. (Xinhua/Huang JBy Xinhuaingwen)

Chinese President Xi Jinping said here Thursday that he is ready to continue working with U.S. President Donald Trump to build a solid foundation for bilateral ties, and create a sound atmosphere for the development of both countries.

In a meeting with Trump, Xi said under their joint guidance, China-U.S. relations have remained stable on the whole.

"China and the United States should be partners and friends. That is what history has taught us and what reality needs," he said.

Given different national conditions, the two sides do not always see eye to eye with each other, and it is normal for the two leading economies of the world to have frictions now and then, Xi added.

"You and I are at the helm of China-U.S. relations," said Xi. "In the face of winds, waves and challenges, we should stay the right course, navigate through the complex landscape, and ensure the steady sailing forward of the giant ship of China-U.S. relations."

Xi said that there is a good momentum in China's economic development, adding that in the first three quarters of this year, China's economy increased by 5.2 percent, and import and export trade in goods with the rest of the world expanded by 4 percent.

This is not an easy accomplishment given the domestic and external difficulties, Xi noted, adding that the Chinese economy is like a vast ocean, big, resilient and promising.

"We have the confidence and capability to navigate all kinds of risks and challenges," Xi added.

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with U.S. President Donald Trump in Busan, South Korea, Oct. 30, 2025. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)

At its fourth plenary session, the 20th CPC Central Committee deliberated over and adopted the recommendations for the economic and social development plan over the next five years, Xi said.

"Over the past seven decades and more, we have been working from generation to generation on the same blueprint to make it a reality. We have no intention to challenge or supplant anyone. Our focus has always been on managing China's own affairs well, improving ourselves, and sharing development opportunities with all countries across the world," he added.

Describing that as an important secret to China's success, Xi said China will further deepen reform across the board, expand opening up, and promote higher-quality economic growth while achieving an appropriate increase in economic output, and advance well-rounded human development and common prosperity for all, adding that this will also expand the space for cooperation between China and the United States.

Xi noted that the two countries' economic and trade teams had an in-depth exchange of views on important economic and trade issues, and reached consensus on solving various issues.

He called on the two teams to work out and finalize the follow-up steps as soon as possible, and ensure that the common understandings are effectively upheld and implemented, to inject confidence into the two countries as well as the global economy through solid deliverables.

China-U.S. economic and trade relations have experienced ups and downs recently, and this has also given the two sides some insights, Xi noted.

The business relationship, Xi said, should continue to serve as the anchor and driving force for China-U.S. relations, not a stumbling block or a point of friction. 

The two sides should think big and recognize the long-term benefit of cooperation, and must not fall into a vicious cycle of mutual retaliation, he added, calling on the two teams to continue their talks in the spirit of equality, mutual respect and mutual benefit, and continuously shorten the list of problems and lengthen the list of cooperation.

Dialogue is better than confrontation, Xi said, adding that China and the United States should maintain communication through various channels and at various levels to enhance mutual understanding.

There is good potential for the two countries to work together on combating illegal immigration and telecom fraud, anti-money laundering, artificial intelligence, and responding to infectious diseases, he added.

The competent departments should strengthen dialogue and exchanges and carry out mutually beneficial cooperation, Xi said, adding that the two countries should also engage in positive interactions on regional and international platforms.

"The world today is confronted with many tough problems. China and the United States can jointly shoulder our responsibility as major countries, and work together to accomplish more great and concrete things for the good of our two countries and the whole world," he added.

China will host APEC 2026, and the United States the G20 summit next year, Xi noted.

The two sides can support each other in making both summits productive to promote world economic growth and improve global economic governance, he added.

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with U.S. President Donald Trump in Busan, South Korea, Oct. 30, 2025. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

Noting that it was a great honor to meet with Xi, Trump said China is a great country and President Xi is a well respected great leader, with whom he has been good friends for many years and has always got along well.

The United States and China have always had a fantastic relationship, and it will be even better, said Trump, voicing his hope for an even better future for both China and the United States.

China is the biggest partner of the United States, and with joint efforts, the two countries can get many great things done for the world and have many years of success, said Trump.

China will host the 2026 APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, while the United States will host the G20 Summit next year, said Trump, wishing both sides every success in these important events.

The two presidents have agreed to enhance cooperation in economic, trade, energy and other fields and to encourage more people-to-people exchanges.

They have also agreed to maintain interactions on a regular basis. Trump looked forward to visiting China early next year, and invited President Xi to visit the United States.

Xi lands in South Korea for APEC meeting, state visit

Chinese President Xi Jinping landed in Busan on Thursday to attend the 32nd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Gyeongju, and ...

Why this APEC meeting is drawing so much attention: Global Times editorial

Against the backdrop of global economic uncertainty, rising protectionism and accelerated technological transformation, how should we write "Asia-Pacific's tomorrow"? "Chinese wisdom" and "Chinese solutions" have become one of the focal points of attention at this APEC meeting.

 

Mass Protests Erupt in Malaysia as Trump Faces Outrage Over Gaza at ASEAN Summit

https://www.ndtv.com/video/he-s-not-welcome-on-malaysian-soil-hundreds-protest-trumps-upcoming-asean-summit-visit-1012945

Hundreds of protesters took to the streets of Kuala Lumpur where U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to arrive for the ASEAN Summit, triggering widespread outrage over his stance on Gaza and U.S. support for Israel. Led by Malaysia’s Islamist PAS party, demonstrators waved Palestinian flags and chanted anti-Trump slogans outside the U.S. Embassy and summit venues. Riot police were deployed across the city as tensions flared, though Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim urged protesters to remain peaceful. The demonstrations underscored growing anger across Southeast Asia toward Washington’s Middle East policy. Despite the chaos, Trump’s visit marks the first time a U.S. president has visited Malaysia in a decade, the last being Barack Obama in 2015. #TrumpASEANSummit #MalaysiaProtests #GazaWar #AnwarIbrahim #ASEAN2025 #TrumpInAsia India Today Global is an India-based news channel that serves as an international arm of India's prominent media organization. It aims to provide factual, up-to-date news, analysis, and insights from India and around the world. The channel delivers a mix of content, including political news, business updates, entertainment, and cultural stories, focusing on both India-centric news and broader global issues. India Today Global features expert commentary, interviews, and in-depth reporting on key developments in India, as well as how they intersect with global events. It is known for its reputation as a trusted source of news in India. India Today Global is designed to cater to the Indian diaspora in the US while also appealing to international viewers interested in South Asian affairs and perspectives on global news. It's the English news brand that understands and fits perfectly into the digital-first lifestyles of our English news audiences. The marquee shows of our channel are: Statecraft: Our Executive Editor Geeta Mohan decodes the truth, cut out the noise, and present you the real facts that shape your world. We'll dissect the narratives spun by competing interests, analyze the subtle shifts in geopolitical landscapes, and illuminate the underlying forces that drive international relations. Expect rigorous analysis, informed perspectives, and a commitment to clarity in a world often obscured by deliberate ambiguity. We'll explore the economic levers, the military strategies, and the cultural influences that intertwine to form the complex tapestry of global power. Join us as we navigate the corridors of influence and reveal the hidden mechanisms that govern our interconnected world. Threadbare: We dive deep into global politics to unwind myths and expose false narratives shaping the world. Our episodes tackle disinformation, political information, and geopolitical myths to provide fact-based insights. Stay informed with in-depth analysis on international relations, political crisis, and global events. If you're interested in debunking political myths, exploring truth behind media narratives, and understanding the real forces driving global politics, this playlist is for you!
 

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UN Human Rights Council adopts China-tabled draft resolution on promoting economic, social and cultural rights

 

Photo: CFP

A draft resolution on promoting and protecting economic, social and cultural rights within the context of addressing inequalities was adopted without a vote at the 60th session of the UN Human Rights Council on Monday.

The draft resolution was submitted by China on behalf of nearly 70 countries, including Bolivia, Egypt, Pakistan, and South Africa, according to CCTV News.

Chinese Ambassador Chen Xu, China's permanent representative to the UN Office in Geneva and other international organizations in Switzerland, said at the session that as this year marks the 80th anniversary of the founding of the UN and the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, China's proposal aims to bridge differences, build consensus and focus on action-oriented cooperation, CCTV News reported.

He called for strengthening multilateralism and international cooperation, holding thematic discussions and interactive dialogues within the Human Rights Council, supporting the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in enhancing its work on economic, social and cultural rights, and making full use of the economic social and cultural rights knowledge hub established under a China-tabled resolution to better provide technical assistance and capacity-building for countries in need.

Various developing countries voiced support, saying the resolution reflects the real needs of people and effectively responds to the strong calls of developing countries for increasing investment in economic, social and cultural rights. Various parties including the EU commended the resolution. After its adoption, many countries and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights extended congratulations to the Chinese mission, recognizing China's leading role in advancing these rights globally, according to CCTV News.

The evolution of Malaysian foreign policy

Kuala Lumpur once prized non-alignment above all else – now it sees Beijing as more reliable than lectures from the West.- Murni Abdul Hamid

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim during a parade for Malaysian Independence Day celebrations last month in Putrajaya, Malaysia (Syaiful Redzuan/Anadolu via Getty Images

Malaysia’s approach in navigating great power rivalry since the Cold War has largely been based on the principles of non-alignment, neutralism, and equidistance. However, two contrasting snapshots of the country’s Independence (Merdeka) Day celebration – half a century apart – offer an interesting perspective on whether Malaysia’s contemporary position has shifted away from these principles.

On 31 August 1973, Malaysia’s second Prime Minister, Tun Abdul Razak, hastily left the joyous Merdeka celebration midway to depart for Algiers and lead the Malaysian delegation to the Non-Alignment Movement (NAM) Summit. It was his first time attending the summit. It had taken several attempts for Malaysia to become a NAM member, largely due to Indonesia’s opposition and influence within the Afro-Asian group during the Konfrontasi period. Malaysia’s experience of Konfrontasi and the retreat of the British from the region pushed the country to seek friends among other newly independent states.

When Malaysia finally became a NAM member in 1970, its foreign policy gradually shifted away from heavy reliance on the United Kingdom toward a more neutral and non-aligned stance. Against this background, Tun Razak strongly felt the need for Malaysia to be represented at the highest level in Algiers to signify the country’s commitment to non-alignment – even if it meant leaving the Merdeka celebration halfway.

Malaysia’s second Prime Minister, Tun Abdul Razak (Bettmann/Getty Images)

Jump forward just over 50 years to 31 August 2025, Malaysia’s tenth Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim, left at the conclusion of the nation’s Merdeka celebration to immediately depart for China to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit. It was the first time Malaysia had participated in the SCO, in which Malaysia is neither a member nor an observer. It was also the first time a Malaysian leader attended China’s “Victory Parade” in Beijing, which this year took place a few days later, to commemorate the end of the Second World War, alongside other leaders including from Russia, North Korea, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Iran.

Since becoming Prime Minister in late 2022, Anwar has visited China four times, with China’s President and Premier reciprocating accordingly (also a total of four times if including the upcoming ASEAN Summit and other meetings next month).

While China has been Malaysia’s largest trading partner since 2009, relations with China have further intensified in recent years both bilaterally and multilaterally. These include Malaysia’s active involvement in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and participation in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP). Stronger ties also extend to decisions to allow Chinese companies to develop the country’s second 5G network and to revitalise Malaysia’s national car industry, the recent acceptance of China’s vision of building a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind, and the landmark creation of a bilateral mechanism with China to discuss maritime issues. Malaysia’s decision to join BRICS, and the initiative to bring in China into the ASEAN-GCC platform by hosting the first-ever ASEAN-GCC-China Summit in Kuala Lumpur, also illustrate the depth of relations.

The actions of the great powers leave little room for Malaysia to manoeuvre, and siding with the more predictable and reliable power seems to be the less risky option.

While Malaysia’s intensification of cooperation with China should not be viewed as a zero-sum game, it is hard to ignore that this occurred against the backdrop of deteriorating relations with the United States. From the perspective of Malaysian leaders, the more benign power and trusted partner today is not the United States, but China. This, in spite of several challenges, particularly in the South China Sea.

In Anwar’s speech during President Xi Jinping’s visit to Malaysia earlier this year, he praised China as a rational, steady, and reliable partner amid the turbulence of “economic tribalism” and threats to multilateralism and the rules-based order. Last year, when Anwar spoke off-the-cuff at a business luncheon in honour of Premier Li Qiang in Kuala Lumpur, he commended the attitude of the Chinese leadership as “friendly, courteous, full of respect, [and] understanding of cultures and differences”, in contrast to the “narrative from the others” and the “barrage of questions” from others – especially “the western” – on whether Malaysia’s close relations with China would be in Malaysia’s best interest.

Understandably, as an independent nation, no country appreciates being told who it should be friends with, especially when those doing the lecturing neither act as they preach nor have been reliable friends in the first place.

While closer relations with the United States would still serve Malaysia’s interests – particularly in the realms of the economy and defence – they are proving even more elusive under President Donald Trump. His arbitrary tariff impositions, aggressive rhetoric (even against allies), withdrawals from multilateral organisations, disregard for the rule of law, undermining of the global order, and coddling of Israel have been obstacles for Malaysian leaders in promoting closer ties with the United States. Domestically, various opinion polls in recent years have shown a steady decline in Malaysians’ favourable perceptions towards the United States, while favourable views of China and even Russia have increased significantly.

If the above trend persists, Malaysia might find itself moving even further away from its non-aligned, neutral, and equidistant stances that served it well in the past. At present, however, the actions of the great powers leave little room for Malaysia to manoeuvre, and siding with the more predictable and reliable power seems to be the less risky option.

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SCO pushing past US dominance

Russian President Vladimir Putin, from left, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping talk ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit at the Meijiang Convention and Exhibition Center in Tianjin, China, Monday, Sept. 1, 2025. (Suo Takekuma/Pool Photo via AP)

Xi and Putin rally Global South at Tianjin summit for a multipolar world order

 Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin pressed their vision at a regional summit for a new global security and economic order that prioritises the “Global South”, in a direct challenge to the United States.

Xi was hosting more than 20 leaders of non-Western countries at a two-day summit in the nor­thern Chinese port city of Tianjin of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

The SCO must “promote the democratisation of international relations and enhance representation of developing countries,” Xi said in a speech yesterday, adding that at a time of turbulence, “global governance has reached a new crossroads”.

“We must continue to take a clear stand against hegemonism and power politics, and practise true multilateralism,” he said in a veiled attack on the current US-dominated world order.

However, Xi did not set out any concrete policies in what he called his “Global Governance Initiative” – the latest in a series of policy frameworks from Beijing that analysts say are mainly geared to promoting China’s global leadership role.

Earlier, Xi pushed for more inclusive economic globalisation amid the upheaval caused by US President Donald Trump’s tariff policies, touting the SCO’s “mega-scale market” and vast economic opportunities in fields including energy and science.

Trump’s tariff war has disproportionately affected developing economies such as India, whose exports were hit with a 50% levy last week.

Putin, whose country has forged even closer economic and security ties with China amid the fallout from the Ukraine war, said the SCO had revived “genuine multilateralism”, with national currencies increasingly used in mutual settlements.

“This, in turn, lays the political and socio-economic groundwork for the formation of a new system of stability and security in Eurasia,” Putin said.

“This security system, unlike Euro-centric and Euro-Atlantic models, would genuinely consider the interests of a broad range of countries, be truly balanced, and would not allow one country to ensure its own security at the expense of others.”

Xi called for the creation of a new SCO development bank, in what would be a major step towards the bloc’s long-held aspiration of developing an alternative payment system or common currency that circumvents the US dollar.

Beijing will provide two billion yuan (RM1.18bil) of free aid to member states this year and a further 10 billion yuan (RM5.9bil) of loans to an SCO banking consortium, the Chinese leader said.

China will also build an artificial intelligence cooperation centre for SCO nations, which are also invited to participate in China’s lunar research station, Xi added.

Speaking on the sidelines of the meeting on Sunday, United Nations secretary-­general Anto­nio Guterres said China played a “fundamental” role in upholding global multilateralism.

Others attending the Tianjin summit include Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and leaders from Central Asia, the Middle East, South Asia and South-East Asia.

The security-focused SCO, which began as a group of six Eurasian nations, has expanded to 10 permanent members and 16 dialogue and observer countries in recent years.

Modi was among the leaders from southern and central Asia and the Middle East attending the Tianjin summit.

Beijing has used the summit as an opportunity to mend ties with New Delhi.

Modi, visiting China for the first time in seven years, and Xi both agreed on Sunday that their countries are development partners, not rivals, and discussed ways to improve trade ties. — Reuter

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Official media reveals specific arrangements for China's upcoming V-Day military parade

 

Rehearsal footage released by China Central Television (CCTV) of the upcoming V-Day military parade. Photo: screenshot of CCTV

The Tiananmen Square and Chang'an Avenue in Beijing are ready to host the grand ceremony on September 3 to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. On Monday, China Central Television (CCTV) revealed the specific arrangements for this event. 

The grand event includes a 70-minute military parade. The parade is an institutionalized arrangements for national commemorative parades, and key component of the commemorative activities, carrying significant political and historical importance, per the CCTV report. 

The military parade is conducted in two steps: a military review and a march-past. 

In the military review part, the troops will line up along the Chang'an Avenue, to receive review from President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission. During the parade march-past, airborne flag-guarding echelons, foot formations, battle flag formations, armament columns and aerial echelons will pass through or fly across Tiananmen Square in order. 

A total of 45 formations and echelons will be involved in the parade.

The airborne flag-guarding echelons, composed of multiple helicopter types in various formations, will lead the parade. By escorting the flags, forming symbolic characters, and displaying banners, the echelons will reflect the nation's growing prosperity and the military's continuous development under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, proclaiming to the world the great truth of the inevitable victory of justice, peace, and the people, according to the CCTV report.

Foot formations will reflect "an old and a new," the report said. The "old" refers to veteran units from the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, with personnel primarily drawn from units descended from the Eighth Route Army, New Fourth Army, Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army, South China guerrilla forces, and militias from provinces with wartime revolutionary bases. The "new" reflects the modern structure of military forces, including the "three-in-one" system of armed forces.

The battle flag formations represent the heroic legacy forged in the flames of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. From countless heroes and numerous meritorious flags, a selection of representative flags from different periods, regions, and units has been chosen. These flags, carried by personnel from their respective units, symbolize the enduring spirit of the war, reflecting the people's armed forces' fearless resolve and forward momentum in the face of challenges, per the report.

The armament columns are organized into combat groups based on real combat scenarios, including ground combat, maritime combat, air and missile defense, information warfare, unmanned combat, logistics support, and strategic strike groups. Many of these feature cutting-edge equipment representing the evolution of modern warfare, including some critical national assets, fully demonstrating the People's Liberation Army's formidable capabilities to triumph in modern conflicts.

The aerial echelons, organized in a modular and systematic manner, will consist of advanced early warning and command aircraft, fighters, bombers, transport planes, and more, covering nearly all active main combat aircraft types of the People's Liberation Army (PLA). Many are high-profile "star" equipment, with some making their public debut, fully showcasing the leapfrog development of the PLA's air combat capabilities.

What's more, over 1,000 personnel will form the largest joint military band in the history of parades of the People's Republic of China, performing in front of the Monument to the People's Heroes on Tiananmen Square, per the CCTV report. 

The band will play well-known classic songs from the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, evoking memories of that arduous era and honoring the heroes and martyrs who sacrificed their lives for national independence and freedom. New compositions reflecting contemporary themes and the vigor of a strong military will also be performed for the first time in Tiananmen Square.

Global Times

On 80th anniversary of its surrender, Japan should change its course, China strongly deplores Japanese politicians’ visits to the Yasukuni Shrine, lodges serious protests with the Japanese side

 

People mourn at the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders, in Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu Province on April 4, 2025. Photos: VCG

August 15 marks the 80th anniversary of Japan's unconditional surrender in World War II. On what should have been a solemn occasion for deep reflection on history, some members of Japan's cabinet and lawmakers from the Liberal Democratic Party visited the Yasukuni Shrine, where Class-A war criminals are enshrined, disregarding Japan's responsibility for wartime aggression and the facts of its invasion, and perpetuating the historical revisionist course of Japanese politics. 

Behind this vague and ambiguous official stance lies a deeper social ailment: a selective amnesia and systematic revision of the history of militarism in Japanese society. Rather than reflecting on history, Japan on this day was, under the combined forces of political maneuvering and societal amnesia, once again missing the precious opportunity to shed its historical burden and rebuild mutual trust with its Asian neighbors.

Japan's ambiguity on historical issues is by no means accidental. Due to its incomplete postwar reckoning and serious lack of introspection, Japan has never truly come to terms with its history of aggression and war crimes. Especially since the end of the Cold War, with the advance of political conservatism and rightward shift in the country, Japan - under the strategy of becoming a "normal country" by "escaping from the postwar regime" - has seen historical revisionism flourish. This is not merely reflected in politicians' verbal gaffes or visits to the Yasukuni Shrine, but in the systematical wrong shaping and distortion of national memory, particularly among younger generations. A recent visit by Global Times reporters found that in Iida City of Nagano, Japan, students studied daily next to the peace memorial museum that has long exhibited physical evidence of Unit 731's human experiments, yet were entirely unaware of its existence. In Tokyo, young people regarded Yasukuni Shrine as an ordinary shrine, having no concept of the Class-A war criminals enshrined there or its symbolism as a relic of militarism.

Even more dangerously, Japan's wrong view of history is directly transforming into perilous foreign policy, especially toward China. The Ishiba administration's ambiguity and retreat on the 80th anniversary of Japan's surrender echoed dangerously with its recent series of negative moves concerning China. 

The Defense of Japan 2025 white paper hypes up the so-called "China threat," using it as a pretext to dramatically increase defense spending and develop offensive weapons, shifting its military strategy from "exclusive defense" toward so-called "aggressive posture." On the Taiwan question, Japan has repeatedly crossed the line, sending wrong signals to "Taiwan independence" forces, in serious violation of the one-China principle and the spirit of the four political documents between China and Japan. Behind such actions lies a disregard for the postwar international order, rooted in the deliberate neglect of the fact - stipulated in international legal documents such as the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation - that Japan must return Taiwan island, which it had stolen from China.

Japan's current negative policy toward China goes hand in hand with its historical revisionism. Domestically, it distorts history to create a "China threat" narrative, thereby paving the way for loosening military constraints. Internationally, it uses pretexts such as a potential "Taiwan contingency" to promote military expansion and divert attention from domestic problems. Such strategic judgments, rooted in a mistaken view of history, are pushing China-Japan relations into a dangerous situation and posing serious challenges to regional peace and stability. In response to Japan's obstinacy on historical issues, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi's words hit the nail on the head: "Only by facing history squarely can respect be earned; only by drawing lessons from history can a better future be explored; only by remembering the past can straying onto the wrong path again be avoided." This is not only China's demand, but also the only path for Japan to achieve self-redemption.

At the critical historical juncture, the international community has a responsibility to urge Japan to deeply reflect on its history and reassess its policy orientation toward China. First, the Japanese government and its leaders must show political courage and make a clear break with historical revisionism. The acknowledgment of the facts of aggression and responsibility for harm, as stated in the "Murayama Statement" in 1995, is the prerequisite for Japan's reconciliation with Asian neighbors and the key to gain credibility in the international community.

Second, the truth of history must be respected, and historical memory must not be eroded. Regarding egregious acts such as outright denial of the Nanjing Massacre, the Japanese government must take a clear stance and act accordingly. Only through honest and in-depth discussion of its "responsibility for harm" can Japanese society truly learn the lessons of history and prevent the tragedy of war from recurring.

Finally, Japan must reflect on its history in its foreign policy, stop hyping the "China threat," and abandon its beggar-thy-neighbor military expansion. On major issues concerning China's core interests and the postwar international order, such as the Taiwan question, Japan must honor its commitments and act with caution. Japan's national security cannot be built on distorted history and military confrontation, but only on mutual trust and cooperation with its neighbors.

Japan's understanding of history concerns not only its own national future but also the future of East Asia. If Japan wants the future generation to be "free from predestined apology," the country must first turn back from the erroneous path of historical revisionism - 

Global Times editorial

China strongly deplores Japanese politicians’ visits to the Yasukuni Shrine, lodges serious protests with the Japanese side: FM spokesperson

Chinese Foreign Ministry

China strongly deplores Japanese politicians' visits to the Yasukuni Shrine, which challenge historical justice and human conscience, and has lodged stern protests with the Japanese side, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Saturday in response to Japanese politicians paying respects to the Yasukuni Shrine on Friday.

Friday marks the day of Japan's unconditional surrender in the Second World War, but Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba sent a ritual offering to the Yasukuni Shrine, and Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Shinjiro Koizumi, Minister of Finance Katsunobu Kato and rightwing politicians including Takayuki Kobayashi and Koichi Hagiuda visited the Shrine.

Commenting on the Japanese politicians' visit to the Yasukuni Shrine, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson pointed out that the Yasukuni Shrine is a spiritual tool and symbol of Japanese militarists' war of aggression against foreign nations. The shrine honors 14 convicted Class-A war criminals who bear grave responsibilities for the war crimes committed during that war of aggression.

We urge Japan to face squarely and reflect on its history of aggression, be prudent on historical issues such as the Yasukuni Shrine, make a clean break with militarism, stick to the path of peaceful development, and earn the trust of its Asian neighbors and the international community through real actions, the spokesperson said.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. To view and treat history correctly is an important prerequisite for Japan's post-war return to the international community. It is the political foundation of Japan's relations with neighboring countries, and more importantly, a yardstick for Japan's commitment to peaceful development, the spokesperson noted.