China: We’ll Hold a Celebration Marking the 60th Anniversary of the End of the Second World War

China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency reported on May 10 that China, following Russia, will issue a commemorative coin and stamp while hosting a ceremony remembering the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.

The Xinhua News Agency quoted the notice issued by the Communist Party of China (CPC), which was released last weekend, as saying that in order to mark August 15, 1945, the date when the 14 year-long anti-Japanese war ended, the Chinese government will hold a massive ceremony and seminar to be attended by the soldiers of the war.

Up to now, China has not held an event in recognition of the end of World War II on a large scale, considering the relationship with Japan, but the government’s recent announcement shows China’s change from its previous stance.

There have been opinions urging the government to designate the date when the Second World War ended as a memorial day in China’s congress, the National People’s Congress (NPC), in Beijing starting 2001. However, experts forecast that China won’t go as far as designating it a memorial day, taking into account its relationship with Japan.

Meanwhile, anti-Japanese groups in China launched an online petition drive aimed at promoting a large-scale honking and a time for silent prayer August 15 or September 18, the anniversary of the Manchurian Incident. These groups have so far garnered supportive signatures from 500,000 people.

An anti-Japanese campaigner said that doing things such as issuing a commemorative stamp is too common and an already-used tactic, complaining that the CPC’s statement is only 10 percent of their expectations.

Yoo-Seong Hwang yshwang@donga.com