Painful past not to be repeated

Imperial Japane merged victorious in the 1894-95 Sino-Japanese War and set on its journey of invasions, occupations and destruction that claimed the lives of millions of people. Japan didn't stop its dance of death until it reached the brink of destructing itself at the end of World War II.Even today, Japan is an "abnormal state" because it refuses to own up to its war crimes.

General Liu Yazhou, National Defense University of Chinese People's Liberation Army, xinhuanet.com, July 21

Whenever China prospered, Japanese warlords cast their greedy eyes on it, paying scant respect to China's self-restraint. Even today, with fewer than 60,000 personnel serving in the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, Japanese analysts boast to "end a naval battle against China with in three hours".Such claims may be absurd, but China has to be prepared for all possible challenges. Today, like in 1894, China is facing problems like rampant corruption, bureaucratism, and lack of innovative and alert minds. China has to be careful so that history does not repeat itself.

WangYi, deputy editor-in-chief of Military Publishing House of Friendship and Literature, xinhuanet.com, July 20

China's defeat in the 1894-95 Sino-Japanese War has left a permanent scar on Chinese people's psyche. Of course, we cannot forget the pains of the past, but we need to look forward and concentrate on building a nation strong enough to protect its people.

qianlong.com, July 24

After the 1894-95 war, imperial Japan started its mass pillage and invasion of China, causing the greatest damage to the country. So, it is ridiculous to hear some scholars describe that war as one of "liberation" and "restoring traditional culture" for China. All they are doing is offering excuses for Japan's invasion of China.

Zhu Changrong, associate researcher at the Institute of Chinese History, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, July 24