China has issued a formal protest to Japan regarding revisions to high school textbooks set for use in 2027, which allegedly downplay historical wartime atrocities and assert territorial claims over the Diaoyu Dao islands. The Chinese Foreign Ministry criticized the revisions as an attempt to obscure Japan’s wartime aggression and evade responsibility.
On March 24, Japan’s Ministry of Education approved textbooks that reportedly omit references to coercion in the recruitment of “comfort women” and forced labor during World War II. The texts also describe Diaoyu Dao, which China claims as its inherent territory, as part of Japan.
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian stated during a March 25 briefing that such revisions reflect Japan’s “go-to tactic to deny and distort its history of aggression.” He urged Japan to confront its past, educate its youth truthfully, and rebuild trust with Asian neighbors.
China’s protest underscores ongoing tensions over historical narratives in East Asia, with implications for regional diplomacy and cross-border relations. Analysts warn that unresolved historical disputes could hinder economic collaboration and stability in the Asia-Pacific.
