步平：彻底反省侵略历史才有光明未来（中英对照）

中文版： 彻底反省侵略历史才有光明未来.doc 

英文版：Reflecting on Past Aggression to Ensure a Peaceful Future.doc 

彻底反省侵略历史才有光明未来

Reflecting on Past Aggression to Ensure a Peaceful Future

 

步平

By Bu Ping

 

2015年是中国人民抗日战争暨世界反法西斯战争胜利70周年。在这样一个反思历史的关键年份，亚洲曾经遭受日本军国主义深重苦难的国家发出了共同的正义之声，纷纷要求日本在历史认知方面秉持负责任的态度。早在今年年初，美国驻韩国大使、美国国务院发言人也都对外公开表示，希望安倍政府能够继承“村山谈话”。

 

In 2015, which marks the 70th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, Asian countries that suffered under Japanese expansionism will call for international justice with one voice, demanding Japan take a responsible stance by acknowledging its historical militarism. Early this year, U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Mark Lippert and spokespersons of the U.S. Department of State stated publicly that they hope Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s cabinet will follow the example of former Japanese Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama.The former Japanese leader gave a speech on the 50th anniversary of the war’s end in 1995, in which he publicly apologized for the atrocities Japanese troops committed during World War II.

 

对于探寻应当如何认识当年那场战争的性质，如何从历史中吸取教训，面向未来，思考村山富市20年前的谈话具有特别的意义。

 

Today, remembering Murayama’s statement from 20 years ago is of special significance for understanding the lessons of World War II.

 

二战后，对日本发动侵略战争和进行殖民地统治的责任进行追究，是东亚地区国际政治的重要课题。与此同时，战后日本社会围绕历史问题的种种争论，也深深影响了东亚乃至国际政治。日本普通民众通过战后审判了解到包括南京大屠杀在内的日本军人在亚洲战场上的暴虐行为，对军国主义进行了谴责，对“战争责任”进行了追究与思考，确立了走和平道路的方向。

 

Since the end of World War II, holding Japan responsible for its aggression and colonial rule has been an important political issue in East Asia. Japan’s complicated attitudes toward its history also have a deep influence on regional relations. Through the International Military Tribunal of the Far East (IMTFE), Japanese people became aware of the atrocities committed by the nation’s army on Asian battlefields, including the notorious Nanjing Massacre in 1937. Japanese people denounced the crime of militarism, investigated the responsibility for aggression and ultimately decided to take the path of peaceful development.

 

然而，日本国内始终存在不肯承认侵略战争责任的政治势力。20世纪80年代，随着日本取得战后经济建设的巨大成就，要求进行“战后政治总决算”的保守思潮抬头。上世纪90年代中期，一些日本政治人物为历史翻案的倾向更加严重。上百位议员组成“历史研讨委员会”，对1993年当选的细川护熙首相关于日本发动的战争是侵略战争的发言进行攻击和责难；以总结历史的名义，从原因、过程、结果等诸多方面为日本军国主义侵略战争翻案；阻止日本国会在1995年通过反省侵略战争责任的“不战决议”；呼吁政治家参拜靖国神社；否认以“从军慰安妇”等问题为代表的日本战争犯罪。凡此种种表明，战后50周年之际，日本社会出现了阻挠反省侵略战争的强大逆流。

 

However, political forces bent on denying historical realities persist in Japan. In the 1980s, right-wing conservatives demanded the reversal of postwar politics amid the country’s successful economic development since the end of World War II. In the mid-1990s, the tendency became even more pronounced among Japanese politicians. Over 100 parliamentary politicians established a committee devoted to discussing history. The committee denounced Morihiro Hosokawa, who was elected Japanese Prime Minister in 1993, for his speech apologizing for Japan’s aggression. The committee attempted to cover up historical truth and whitewash the past. They attempted to block Japan’s parliament from approving a resolution in 1995 that recognized the country’s historical responsibility for aggression. Moreover, they pushed politicians to pay respects to war criminals at the Yasukuni Shrine. They denied war atrocities committed by the Japanese army in occupied areas including sex slavery of women from China, Korea and Southeast Asian countries. All these events show that there is a strong political force in Japan obstructing people from reflecting on history even 50 years after the end of World War II.

 

究竟是将历史的包袱一直背下去，还是真诚反思历史、担负起道义的重任？这是决定日本将向何处去的严肃问题。1994年当选的村山富市首相顶住逆流，在1995年8月15日发表谈话：

 

Will Japan continue bearing the historical burden or make a sincere introspection over its past aggression and acknowledge historical responsibility? This question will decide Japan’s future. Murayama became prime minister of Japan in 1994. On August 15, 1995, he stood up against pressure and delivered a formal speech, in which he publicly apologized for Japanese atrocities during World War II.

 

“在过去不太遥远的一个时期内，错误的国策使日本走上了战争道路，日本国民陷入了存亡的危机。由于进行殖民统治和侵略，给许多国家特别是亚洲各国人民造成了极大的损害和痛苦。为避免将来重犯这样的错误，我毫不怀疑地面对这一历史事实，并再次表示深刻反省和由衷的歉意。”

 

In his statement, Murayama said: “During a certain period in the not too distant past, Japan, following a mistaken national policy, advanced along the road to war, only to ensnare the Japanese people in a fateful crisis, and, through its colonial rule and aggression, caused tremendous damage and suffering to the people of many countries, particularly to those of Asian nations. In the hope that no such mistake be made in the future, I regard, in a spirit of humility, these irrefutable facts of history, and express here once again my feelings of deep remorse and state my heartfelt apology. Allow me also to express my feelings of profound mourning for all victims, both at home and abroad, of that history.”

 

这是战后日本政治走到十字路口时发表的一份关键谈话。它高度概括了战后觉悟了的日本民众的声音，对发动侵略战争和实行殖民统治表示“深刻反省”和“由衷的歉意”，与那些回避战争责任、目光短浅的日本政治人物给东亚世界带来的不稳定形成了明显对照。

 

The speech marked a key moment as Japanese politics stood at a crossroads following World War II. The statement expressed the peaceful voice of an awakened Japanese people. Prime Minister Murayama’s words revealed a sharp contrast to short-sighted politicians who even today avoid undertaking historical responsibility and bring instability to East Asia.

 

历史的经验是清晰的。“村山谈话”不仅没有降低日本的国际威望，反而拉近了日本与东亚各国的距离，特别是取得了中国、韩国等曾遭受日本侵略的邻国民众的信任，改善了因一些日本政治人物不负责任的言行而被破坏了的双边关系，为维护东亚和平稳定发挥了重要作用。

 

The historical legacy of the speech is clear. Murayama’s statement promoted relations between Japan and its neighbors, in particular with China and South Korea, and helped Japan earn their trust. The statement also helped Japan mend bilateral ties that had been strained by the irresponsible words and deeds made by some right-wing Japanese politicians. In short, the statement played an important role in maintaining the peace and stability of East Asia.

 

彻底反思过去、开怀拥抱未来，需要在大是大非问题上亮明态度，也需要以实际行动呵护信任、培育友谊。

 

To thoroughly reflect on the past and advance toward the future, one should have a clear stance on moral issues, as well as maintain trust and foster friendship with concrete actions.

 

村山首相在其任期内推动了“中日和平友好交流计划”，建立了中日两国学者共同研究战争历史的项目，并且设立了亚洲历史资料中心，向海内外公开了日本政府有关机构保管的与战争历史有关的资料。一系列举措从政府的战争责任认识层面澄清了一些模糊认识，向国际社会清楚地表明了反省战争责任的正确态度，在取得世界各国信任的同时也深刻影响了日本社会。

 

Murayama took a series of measures to promote Japan’s ties with its neighbors during his tenure. For example, he announced the “Peace, Friendship, and Exchange Initiative” on August 31, 1994. With the program as a basic framework, Japan and China together supported historical research, and set up Asian Historical Document Center, which later became known as Japan Center for Asian Historical Records, as part of an effort to share historical records and official documents of the Japanese Government. These measures clarified some vague understanding of Japan’s historical responsibility and expressed accurate reflections on its past aggression. With these measures, Japan earned the trust of other countries while raising a profound lesson for its own people.

 

村山首相之后的历届日本首相虽然属于不同政党，但在历史问题上，都表示遵守“村山谈话”的原则。一些日本政治家虽然也曾发表过关于历史问题的谈话，但或因其认识水平未超过“村山谈话”，或因其言行并不一致，都没有产生重要影响。

 

Successive prime ministers after Murayama, despite representing different parties, all followed the principle of their predecessor. Some Japanese leaders have delivered additional speeches regarding historical issues. However, none have matched the weight of Murayama’s powerful statement, and their deeds have not lived up to their words.

 

“村山谈话”及其产生的积极影响清晰地表明，对于日本领导人来说，痛彻反省日本军国主义侵略历史，承担起理应承担的责任，是引领自己的国家同不光彩的历史彻底决裂所必须做的事情。唯有这样，日本才能给亚洲人民和整个国际社会一个令人放心的交代。日本提升其国际形象的正确做法，是郑重表明对待侵略历史的反省态度。这一态度也是改善同亚洲邻国关系，维护东亚稳定的关键。没有这种对历史、对地区与世界和平稳定负责任的态度，日本就不可能真正卸下历史包袱、走向光明未来。

 

The lasting influence of Prime Minister Murayama’s statement shows that Japanese leaders must thoroughly reflect on the history of Japanese militarism and admit historical responsibility--the only way open for them to lead the country beyond their reprehensible history. Japan’s political reputation rests on its ability to take a solemn attitude toward its history, and is also necessary for improving its relations with Asian neighbors and maintaining the stability of East Asia. By undertaking the responsibility of history, regional and world peace, Japan may finally be relieved of its historical burden and embrace a brighter future.

 

（作者为中国社会科学院近代史研究所学术委员会主任、中国抗日战争史学会会长）

 

(The author is director of the academic board of the Institute of Modern History at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.)