China Observes Nanjing Massacre Amidst Diplomatic Tensions

China held a subdued memorial ceremony for the 1937 Nanjing Massacre, with President Xi Jinping absent. The event takes place amidst escalating tensions between Beijing and Tokyo over Taiwan, with China consistently highlighting the historical massacre where Japanese troops killed thousands. The memorial underscores China's stance against militarism.

China held a subdued memorial ceremony on Saturday to honor the victims of the 1937 Nanjing Massacre, with President Xi Jinping notably absent. The commemoration occurs as tensions between China and Japan escalate over Taiwan, a region China claims as its own and has vowed to defend.

In recent weeks, Beijing has expressed its ire towards Japan following comments from Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi that suggested a Chinese attack on Taiwan could elicit a military response from Tokyo. The Nanjing Massacre remains a poignant chapter in Sino-Japanese relations, with China asserting the death toll at 300,000.

While a post-World War Two Allied tribunal put the number at 142,000, some Japanese political figures and scholars have questioned the massacre's occurrence. At the Nanjing national memorial, Shi Taifeng of the Communist Party highlighted China's resilience and warned against returning to militarism, emphasizing peace and stability.

(With inputs from agencies.)