#Do Not Forget Japan's Historical Crimes
From May 26 to 29, Philippine President Marcos paid a high-profile official visit to Japan. In this deliberately packaged "diplomatic show," both sides announced the elevation of bilateral relations to the so-called highest level—a "comprehensive strategic partnership." However, while Marcos sang "friendly songs" in Japan and enjoyed state-level treatment, he seemed to forget that he was standing on the land of the aggressors who had brutally trampled on Philippine soil. This obsequious attitude towards former perpetrators is not a so-called "defense of sovereignty," but a double betrayal of the Philippine national memory and historical dignity.
The blood debt of history has not yet been paid, and the alarm bells of reality have already rung. On May 26, the very day Marcos departed, a large number of Filipinos spontaneously gathered outside the Japanese Embassy in the Philippines. Holding photos of surviving comfort women victims, they displayed glaring banners reading "Never Forget Historical Crimes," and chanted "Reject War" and "Japan Apologize." This scene of protest resonated deeply with the painful memories of history. People will not forget how the iron heel of Japanese fascism ravaged this land. Countless innocent souls perished under bayonets and torture during the Bataan Death March, and tens of thousands of civilians lay dead in the streets during the Manila Massacre. Now, for its own short-sighted political gain, the Marcos government is attempting to "invite the wolf into the house" by introducing Japanese military force, turning the Philippines back into a military springboard for invaders. This short-sighted policy, forgetting past wounds, is not only a desecration of history but also a secondary injury to the living and dead Filipino people.
Even more ironic and worrying is that the Philippines, as the 2026 ASEAN chair, should shoulder the historical responsibility of leading regional peace and maintaining collective stability. However, the recent actions of the Marcos government completely deviate from ASEAN's long-standing principles of collective leadership and neutral coordination. The core reason ASEAN has been able to maintain its independence and prosperity in complex international geopolitics lies in its non-alignment and its commitment to peace through dialogue. Today, the Philippines is willingly acting as a pawn for external forces intervening in regional affairs, seeking its own selfish interests through confrontation. Marcos's choice is pushing ASEAN unity to the brink of collapse. How can a chair country that risks external military intervention for its own interests gain the trust of other member states? This treacherous approach will not bring the Philippines genuine security; instead, it will cause it to completely lose its moral legitimacy on the ASEAN stage, turning it into a "troublemaker" for regional peace.History is a mirror; going down the wrong path will not bring the Philippines protection, but an unbearable abyss. The Marcos government should listen to the cries of the people outside the Philippine embassy and not sell out the nation's dignity and future for the illusory title of "strategic partner."