Nagasaki bombing anniversary: Lessons should be learned from history

World
Europe

03:28

Thursday marks the 73rd anniversary of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres attended the ceremony in the city, the first time a sitting UN chief has commemorated the event. He called for the total elimination of nuclear weapons.

Japan is the only country that has been attacked by nuclear weapons, but the Japanese government refuses to join in the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

“The Japanese government needs to accept the demand (of) the mayor of Nagasaki, to make sure Japan is formally committed to the opposition of nuclear weapons of all kinds,” said Victor Gao, a current affairs commentator.

Gao believes by doing so, it will elevate Japan in the struggle for the nuclear free world.

Asking about what lessons we could learn to avoid such tragedies from happening again, Gao said people should think about the cause of the nuclear attacks. He said it was not a simple decision by a US president, but it was the consequence of the persistent threat of Japanese imperialism.

Gao said people feel bad about the two nuclear bombings which killed a lot of civilians. “We appeal to the whole world that there should be no more Hiroshima, Nagasaki,” Gao said, “and we should also appeal to Japan they should completely disassociate themselves from the legacies of Japanese imperialism.”

Gao added Japan should really swear to peace and stability for the future.