China stresses nationalism in second world war 70th anniversary propaganda push

China plans to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of the second world war in Asia, and its fight against Japan, with a stream of movies, concerts, performances and exhibitions in an effort to strengthen “nationalism and culture”, officials said on Monday, 

The centrepiece of the events is a rare military parade through central Beijing on September 3 to mark the end of hostilities, although few top Western officials are likely to attend for fear of sending the wrong signal in a region fraught with territorial disputes and bitter war memories.

China-Japan relations have long been affected by what China sees as Japan’s failure to atone for its occupation of parts of the country before and during the war. Beijing rarely misses a chance to remind the world of its suffering at the hands of Japan.

Over the next three months, the Chinese government will promote 20 documentaries, 12 television dramas and three animated programmes. Items already presented include more than 180 children’s shows, dramas and musicals.

“By highlighting the spirit of patriotism, uprightness and heroism in their creations, artists can help the public to strengthen their values on history, nationalism and culture, [and] therefore increase their self-confidence and dignity as Chinese,” Dong Wei, Vice-Minister of Culture, said in written remarks before a news briefing.

He said the efforts were in keeping with directions issued by President Xi Jinping about the creation of artistic works that raise the “national consciousness”.

The “War of Resistance Against Japan”, as the 1937-1945 Second Sino-Japanese War is known in China, has long been a popular topic for TV shows, books and movies.