Korean Christians, how do you read Yu Jie’s call to forgive Japan?

Korean Christians, how do you read Yu Jie’s call to forgive Japan?

I recently came across an article by Yu Jie published in The Asia-Pacific Journal back in 2008: “The Anti-Japanese Resistance War, Chinese Patriotism and Free Speech. How Can We Forgive Japan?” (https://apjjf.org/yu-jie/2654/article)

Yu Jie argues something that cuts against the grain of mainstream patriotic discourse: that China’s reconciliation with Japan shouldn’t depend on Japan’s attitude or apologies. He writes that forgiveness must come from China itself, that only by choosing to forgive can we free both nations from the cycle of resentment. He even suggests that Japan is “trapped by its grave crimes” and needs our forgiveness to be released.

To me, this framing feels strikingly Christian: forgiveness as an act of grace, not transaction; an unconditional choice rooted in Christ’s command to love even the unlovable.

A sign of the maturity of a people is its ability to have sufficient confidence to forgive. We should love and forgive the Japanese without asking them to love and forgive first. Although we were victims, we should free ourselves from the chain of hatred earlier than our assailants. We shall be able to choose to look at Japan and other ‘enemies’ compassionately and sympathetically from their perspectives. As victims, we shall be able to gain a state higher than that of the perpetrators through our respect for God. Love and forgiveness do not equal hatred; they are more noble than that.

submitted by /u/Primary-Big-2308
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