Ancient history call raises spectre of sensitivities in China-South Korea ties
China and South Korea and test the recent thaw in relations between the two Asian neighbours, experts said.
At the heart of the issue is a contested view of the kingdoms that arose in today's northeastern China and the Korean peninsula in the second century BC and lasted more than 1,120 years.
Huang Qiang, party chief of Jilin province – which covers the area that once comprised what Chinese call the Fuyu, Gaogouli and Bohai kingdoms – made the remarks earlier this month at a modern history exhibition.
The kingdoms are known internationally by their Korean names – Buyeo, Goguryeo and Balhae, respectively.
According to the official Jilin Daily, Huang 'emphasised the need to confidently and clearly explain' the history of the three kingdoms 'in the most straightforward way so that the audience can understand at a glance'.
Huang also urged scholars to 'thoroughly research and clearly present' China's modern history, 'when foreign invaders encroached upon and carved up China's territory [and] the people of Jilin resisted unyieldingly and rose up in defiance', the report said.
He appears to have been referring to the period between 1840 and 1945, commonly known as the 'century of humiliation', which saw continuous encroachments by foreign powers, culminating in the Japanese invasion from 1931 until the end of World War II.
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