Source: Xinhua
Editor: huaxia
2026-10-30 14:44:15
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi drew criticism for mispronouncing former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda’s name while speaking to reporters about his passing.
A predecessor’s name deserves respect. His warnings deserve more than ceremonial condolences. In June 2018, Fukuda paid a visit to the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders in Nanjing, capital of east China’s Jiangsu Province. There, he laid a wreath for the victims and wrote in calligraphy the Chinese characters “he ping dong ya,” meaning “peace in East Asia.” In 2025, he warned that treating China as an enemy would make the world a stifling place.
His message was clear: two neighbors with such deeply intertwined histories and cultures must find a way to live together peacefully.
Produced by Xinhua Global Service■
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