Japan's propaganda war on Diaoyu Islands doomed to fail

BEIJING - Japan is playing new tricks on the Diaoyu Islands again.

For one thing, Japanese Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba on Tuesday embarked on his trip to Britain, France and Germany, trying to lobby the three Western nations for support.

For another, Japan's Foreign Ministry is geared up to print pamphlets on the Diaoyu Islands in 10 languages and distribute them all over the world.

Diaoyu Island and its affiliated islets have been an integral part of China's territory since Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Japan's so-called "evidences" were no more than broken pieces of unconfirmed documents and blurring the conceptual difference between "control" and "sovereignty."

The Diaoyu Islands were first discovered, named and exploited by the Chinese. Since the 14th and 15th centuries, the islands have been included in Chinese maps. Foreign maps also show that the Diaoyu Islands belong to China.

In December 1943, the Cairo Declaration stated in explicit terms that "all the territories Japan has stolen from the Chinese, such as Manchuria, Formosa (Taiwan) and the Pescadores, shall be restored to the Republic of China. Japan will also be expelled from all other territories which she has taken by violence and greed."

In July 1945, the Potsdam Proclamation stated in Article 8: "The terms of the Cairo Declaration shall be carried out and Japanese sovereignty shall be limited to the islands of Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, Shikoku and such minor islands as we determine."

On Sept 2, 1945, the Japanese government accepted the Potsdam Proclamation with its surrender and pledged to faithfully fulfill the obligations enshrined in the provisions of the Potsdam Proclamation.

Facts are facts, and history can not be denied. People across the world will not be deceived by the performance of certain clowns on the Japanese political arena who want to stir up a row and attract attention.

Therefore, Japan's attempt to seek support from other countries on the islands spat with China is completely futile and its propaganda campaign is doomed to fail.

For sure, Britain, France and Germany will receive Koichiro Gemba out of diplomatic courtesy. But not a single mature statesman will stand in the shoes of Japan on the islands dispute however eloquent Gemba would be.

Those who are familiar with European politics are fully aware that European politicians, to a great extent, make their decisions in accordance with public opinion.

Most European media are convinced that Japan's move to "nationalize" the Diaoyu Islands indicates the rise of rightists and extreme nationalism in the Asian country.

"Aided by a pandering press, a handful of nationalists can have a dangerous impact beyond Japan's shores," said British news magazine The Economists.

Secondly, the European media believe that Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda have enflamed nationalism out of domestic politics. French newspaper Le Monde said the weak Noda regime failed to counterattack the rightists, instead, he made full use of the trend.

Last but more important, the European media, especially the German media, has accused Japan of failing to self-examine its history of aggression.

Suddeutsche Zeitung said in a recent article that no Japanese leader has shown sincere apology like what former German Chancellor Willy Brandt had done. Brandt knelt down at the monument to Warsaw Ghetto victims in 1970 to show Germany's sincere apology for its crimes committed during the Second World War.

In short, whatever tricks Japan may play, to lobby Western politicians, to distribute pamphlets or to spend huge money on propaganda, they can not change the fact that the Diaoyu Islands belong to China.