How China Remembers World War II

The podcast explores the complex and politically charged memory of World War II in East Asia, particularly in China and Japan, 80 years after Japan's surrender. The discussion highlights how wartime narratives are used to bolster nationalism and shape contemporary geopolitics. Rana Mitter, a historian of modern China, shares insights from her recent visit to the Memorial Museum for the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression in Beijing, noting the downplaying of the U.S. role and the increased prominence of Russia in China's version of the war. The hosts and Mitter examine how historical interpretations of events like the Nanjing Massacre and the role of the Kuomintang are debated and manipulated for political purposes, influencing present-day relations and constitutional debates.