CRI听力:China Plans National Day on Anti-Japanese War Victory

September 3rd marks the official end of the Second World War in the Pacific region, after Japanese military commander Yoshijiro Umezu signed the country's formal surrender to the Allies onboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay.

China, having suffered the Japanese invasion and occupation for an extended eight-year period, then decided to set the date as Chinese Victory over Japan Day.

But unlike most of the other allies who observe the Victory Day as a public holiday, the Chinese people have so far marked the occasion with very little ceremonial significance.

Professor Lam Kai Yin is a specialist in Sino-Japanese relations at the Baptist University of Hong Kong.

"Victory Day is marked as a public holiday in most Allied countries. People celebrate the end to the Second World War with much solemnity and even gratitude as it ushers in a new era of peace. China is a latecomer in this regard, and i think not following this international norm was an oversight."

Many countries in continental Europe mark the occasion as a public holiday.

In France, schools spend time before May 8, Victory in Europe Day, on the history of the Nazi oppression and World War II.

On the actual day, all post offices, banks and many businesses are closed.

Even Restaurants and cafes outside tourist areas may also be closed.

Russia, which also suffered tremendously under German aggression, marks Victory Day with particular attention.

The Kremlin holds military parades on the occasion and current president Vladimir Putin invited a number of world leaders to stand witness to the 68th anniversary commemorative events of Victory Day last year.

Over here in the Pacific region, North and South Korea, Australia, and parts of the United States all observe the yearly anniversary as a public holiday.

Professor Joseph Cheng, historian at the City University of Hong Kong, says the Chinese government has played down the occasion as a sign of willingness to reconcile with the past for the sake of its relations with Japan.

"Before, the Chinese authorities, in consideration of friendship with Japan, have avoided adopting such an act. But i do believe the Chinese people today are in firm support of some kind of expression of dissatisfaction with Japan for Japan's not formally apologizing for the damage done to China as well as not engaging in serious reflection on the wrong deeds of the war."

Japan itself is no stranger to the calamity of its badly-meant and badly-calculated war intentions.

Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the two cities which suffered one of the worst civilian tragedies in human history following the atomic bombing by the allies, still wriggle with the past horrors.

Each year, tens of thousands of Japanese people visit the Hiroshima Peace Museum and the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum to mourn the over 210,000 civilian victims killed by the bombing.

Although the Japanese government has acknowledged it followed a mistaken national policy and caused tremendous damage and suffering to the people of many countries during the war time, various administrations have failed to formally apologize to the invaded countries.

For CRI, I am Su Yi.