I am not a nationalist of any kind. My cultural background is eclectic. I relate well to people of very diverse heritages.
I have met Americans who believe that the USA backed the wrong side in the Sino-Japanese War (1937-45).
They believe that the USA should have done more to help Japan 'liberate' China and resolve 'the China problem' forever.
A self-described 'liberal' American said that the Japanese always have been much more humane than the Chinese in war.
He said that everyone knows that the Japanese always have been much more honest than the Chinese about history.
He implied that the Nanjing Massacre was a fabrication of Chinese racist propaganda or, at worst, an understandable
response by the Japanese toward the many Chinese atrocities against Japanese civilians.
As far as I can infer, denial of the Nanjing Massacre seems to be at least a semi-respectable position in the USA.
Many Americans apparently assume that there's no way to decide objectively (meaning only Western judgments)
between Chinese assertions and Japanese denials, so they prefer to give the Japanese the benefit of the doubt.
Americans are much more inclined to accept claims of Japanese war crimes against Westerners than against Chinese.
While many, if not most, Americans like to harp upon China's alleged genocides of Tibetans and Uyghurs,
I have noticed fewer Americans who express any sympathy for Chinese suffering arising from Japan's invasions.
Being called a 'China lover' is about the worst insult that can be made in US politics recently.
