In a strong assertion of historical truth, the Chinese Foreign Ministry stated on Friday that the atrocities committed by Japanese militarism during World War II are supported by "irrefutable evidence," as documented in the records of the Tokyo Trials.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the opening of the Tokyo Trials, a pivotal moment in the establishment of the post-war international order. To commemorate the occasion and preserve historical accuracy, China recently published the complete Chinese translation of the records from the International Military Tribunal for the Far East. These records, which span more than two years of court proceedings, are considered the core historical documentation of the trials.
Further enriching the historical record, China has disclosed six handwritten diaries for the first time. These diaries belonged to David Nelson Sutton, a U.S. assistant prosecutor who participated in the trials, providing a first-hand perspective on the legal proceedings of the era.
Speaking at a regular press briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian emphasized that the publication of the translation and the release of Sutton's diaries underscore that the crimes of Japanese militarist aggression were too numerous to record and are firmly backed by evidence.
Lin expressed concern that, despite the passage of eight decades, some right-wing forces in Japan have failed to reflect deeply on their history. He accused these groups of attempting to whitewash acts of aggression and promote a distorted historical narrative within Japanese society.
The spokesperson specifically criticized Japanese politicians who continue to visit the Yasukuni Shrine, where Class-A war criminals are enshrined. Lin argued that such actions represent an attempt to deny the conclusions of the Tokyo Trials and challenge the existing international order.
"Historical truth cannot be erased, the bottom line of justice cannot be blurred, and the post-war international order cannot be challenged," Lin stated, adding that peace-loving people worldwide would firmly oppose any "neo-militarism" or attempts to reverse the verdicts on crimes of aggression.
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China says Japanese militarist crimes backed by 'irrefutable evidence'
cgtn.com
