Putting current spin on Japan's 1894 war with China

Diplomats and military strategists often draw parallels between current events and historical ones in a bid to influence world opinion or analyse contemporary affairs.

Beijing has shown it's keen to use war-related anniversaries to send political messages. Last week, state-run media commemorated the 120th anniversary of the start of the first Sino-Japanese war (1894-95) with a string of strident editorials harshly critical of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his security policy.

The 19th century war is seen by some historians as the point when power in East Asia shifted from China to Japan, as Tokyo claimed control of Taiwan and the Liaodong peninsula, as well as Korea, which was a Chinese tribute state. They argue that China became a victim of Japanese militarism and territorial expansion until the end of the second world war.

The Beijing News said the war showed the government of the Qing dynasty (1644-1911) lacked an understanding of the enemy. "To win the war, you have to fully understand your enemy … This is the lesson that we should learn from this Sino-Japanese war," it said.

China Daily said Japan was "strikingly similar" to what it was 120 years ago, arguing the country, as it was in 1894, was "aspiring for an expanded overseas military presence … Its foremost target was, once again, China."

Xinhua said Japan's Emperor Meiji declared war on the Qing Dynasty in 1894 under the pretence of "peace". Similarly, Abe peppered his cabinet resolution about asserting Japan's right to self-defence with the word "peace". "It is feared this is not a coincidence," the state-run news agency said in an editorial.