Lee advocated multilingual education including Chinese, and exerted efforts to cultivate an elite good at associating with China. He was willing to conduct sincere cooperation with China, introduce China to the world objectively, and willing to build a bridge of communication between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits. All these won him respect from China.

Japan is much different. Historically it has always felt superior to China. At present, The Japanese government even takes China, which is in an era of rise, as a strategic competitor. Abe lacks correct knowledge about the harm Japan caused to China and the East Asia in the past. At the same time, he looks at China's rise from a geopolitical angle. Thus, it is difficult for him to position contemporary Japan in all aspects including morality and justice, reality and historical development.

There are many areas where Abe needs to learn from the long-term example of the late Lee Kuan Yew. Lee knew deep in his heart that it was not easy for Singapore to stand as a country given its weak foundations; therefore, diligence and modesty were a must.

In contrast, Japan has achieved great economic and social development over the past 70 years. However, the elite in the country lack knowledge about the national responsibility for the war, and the rightists even go against the historical stream, making it difficult for Japan to gain trust in the international community in general. This has damaged its national interests.

Second, on the basis of knowing itself, Japan should make the best use of circumstances and seize the opportunity for its development. Rather than taking China's peaceful development as a challenge, it should seek for mutual Sino-Japanese development.

As long as differences are recognized, common efforts are exerted to overcome difficulties and open cooperation are carried out, Japan can walk out of the maze and find its appropriate position in the changing international system.

The author is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit:

http://www.ccgp-fushun.com/opinion/shendingli.htm

This article was written in Chinese and translated by Li Bin.

Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.