China Rages over Japanese Text Book

By: Alice

In the 1930s Japan's Ministry of Education approved of a textbook that seemingly minimizes the atrocities committed against the Chinese in the 1930s and '40s, according to the Chinese government. Foreign relations between China and Japan have been very weak, and this new report has caused some break in China.

The dispute arose because in the 1930s the Japanese were ruled by a very military based government. This regime invaded many Asian countries including China. There have been many accounts that tell of atrocities omitted by the Japanese soldiers. the Chinese government does not feel that the textbook approved by the Japanese truthfully portrays it's history, leaving out some brutalities committed by the Japanese at that time.

Some students have started protests against the Japanese, holding signs outside the Japanese embassy. Apparently, Chinese authorities have not stopped these and have even provided transportation to some of these students, angering the Japanese in turn. The Japanese government demanded an apology for these actions, but China said "They did not need to apologize," as the Japanese, "hurt the feelings of their citizens by neglecting to truthfully acknowledge the past cruelty that the Japanese have committed against many Asians."

Though the Japanese did not get an apology, the two countries have agreed to try and settle their conflict. For one thing, some Chinese have decided to boycott Japanese goods, an action that would hurt both countries economy. But the Chinese government also believes that the Japanese should make efforts to apologize for its past, to all the countries that it hurt.

The Japanese government made a statement this week apologizing to the Asian counties hurt by said past. Many world leaders attended, and the Chinese seemed pleased by this.

While the two nations have since tried to improve it's shaky relations, we still hear of the people grumbling over the newest troubles. More developments are expected soon.

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