It's a pity that the Philippines took China's commemorations as campaigns against Japan and decided not to attend the event to please Japan. It's a narrow-minded decision.

Japan's leaders may feel awkward to attend the commemorations because their country was defeated in the war. As for the Philippines, it has no reason to turn down the invitation. Before WWII, the Philippines had gained a high degree of autonomy from the United States. It had reached an agreement with the U.S. to become formally independent in 1945. But Japan's invasion had stopped this progress.

President Manuel L. Quezon had to establish an exiled government in the U.S. with the threat of Japanese invasion. The exiled government, like the "Free French" movement led by Charles De Gaulle, made great contributions to the liberation of their motherland. Moreover, as a victorious nation, the Philippines participated in the postwar affairs. Its judges and procurators joined the Tokyo Trials convened in 1946 to try the leaders of the Empire of Japan for its war crimes.

The Western alliance like France, the United Kingdom and Russia will send heads of governments or high-level representatives to attend the event. And the U.S. will send its resident representatives. Countries in the Far East battlefield who worked with China to counter Japanese aggression, such as Myanmar, Indonesia and Vietnam will also send top leaders or head of governments. But the Philippines, a victor in the Far East battlefield, decided not to send even its resident representatives to the event. This regretful decision does not sort with its status as a victor of the war.

History should not be distorted or forgotten. It is shame that the Filipino leaders took this solemn event as a chance to please Japan. If they do not want to be seen as capricious and unfaithful, they should not forget history, nor should they lost their national spirit and integrity either.

This post was first published in Chinese and translated by Li Shen.

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