Tokyo Trials 80th Anniversary: Beijing Criticizes Japan for Accelerating Remilitarization
On the 80th anniversary of the Tokyo Trials, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticized Japan, accusing its right-wing forces of accelerating "remilitarization" by deploying offensive weapons and pushing for constitutional amendments, severely deviating from Japan's self-proclaimed postwar pacifism.
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Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Zhang Shu-ling, Beijing, 3rd) Today marks the 80th anniversary of the opening of the Far East International Military Tribunal. A spokesperson for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticized that the "poisonous legacy" of Japanese militarism "has not been eradicated and is quietly growing," and that right-wing forces are accelerating "remilitarization," deploying offensive weapons, seriously deviating from Japan's self-proclaimed postwar pacifism.
China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs official website today released a Q&A with a spokesperson on the 80th anniversary of the Tokyo Trials.
On May 3, 1946, the Far East International Military Tribunal (also known as the Tokyo Trials or Tokyo War Crimes Trial) opened in Tokyo, Japan. This was a special international military tribunal established after the end of World War II, with judges appointed by the victorious Allied powers.
The spokesperson stated that this historic trial determined that Japanese militarism launched aggressive wars and seriously violated international law, sentencing 25 Class A war criminals, including Hideki Tojo, to hanging or imprisonment. The Tokyo Trials reflected the collective will of the victorious nations and victims, upheld the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, and safeguarded the outcomes of World War II.
He stated that accepting the Tokyo Trials' judgment was a prerequisite for Japan's return to the international community after the war. However, 80 years later, the poisonous legacy of Japanese militarism has not been eradicated and is quietly growing. Some Japanese government officials and politicians openly visit the Yasukuni Shrine, which enshrines Class A war criminals, and right-wing forces are accelerating "remilitarization," deploying offensive weapons, restructuring the military industry, and promoting constitutional amendments, seriously deviating from Japan's self-proclaimed postwar pacifism.
He said that in the face of the formation and harm of Japan's "new militarism," revisiting the background, conclusions, and principles of the Tokyo Trials holds even more practical significance.
He stated that the historical justice embodied by the Tokyo Trials and the Nuremberg Trials is undeniable, their legal validity unchallenged, and the cornerstone of the postwar international order they established unshakable. "Anyone or any force that overestimates its capabilities and attempts to overturn the verdict on aggression will be resolutely resisted by peace-loving people around the world and will be brought to the bar of history again."
Last November, when then-Japanese Prime Minister (Note: actually a cabinet minister at the time) Sanae Takaichi was asked in the Diet under what circumstances a blockade of the Taiwan Strait would be considered a "situation threatening Japan's existence," she explained, "If Taiwan is militarily attacked and a naval blockade is imposed with other means, it could constitute the use of force."
These remarks caused strong dissatisfaction in Beijing, leading to boycotts of tourism and exchanges with Japan. Relations between the two countries have not yet eased.
On March 31 this year, Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force for the first time deployed long-range missiles capable of striking enemy attack bases in Kumamoto and Shizuoka prefectures. Mao Ning, spokesperson for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, subsequently stated that China is seriously concerned about Japan's move, claiming that Japan's deployment of offensive weapons "far exceeds the scope of self-defense and exclusive defense." (Editor: Lu Jia-rong) 1150503
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(Central News Agency reporter Zhang Shu-ling, Beijing, 3rd) Today marks the 80th anniversary of the opening of the Far East International Military Tribunal. A spokesperson for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticized that the "poisonous legacy" of Japanese militarism "has not been eradicated and is quietly growing," and that right-wing forces are accelerating "remilitarization," deploying offensive weapons, seriously deviating from Japan's self-proclaimed postwar pacifism.
China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs official website today released a Q&A with a spokesperson on the 80th anniversary of the Tokyo Trials.
On May 3, 1946, the Far East International Military Tribunal (also known as the Tokyo Trials or Tokyo War Crimes Trial) opened in Tokyo, Japan. This was a special international military tribunal established after the end of World War II, with judges appointed by the victorious Allied powers.
The spokesperson stated that this historic trial determined that Japanese militarism launched aggressive wars and seriously violated international law, sentencing 25 Class A war criminals, including Hideki Tojo, to hanging or imprisonment. The Tokyo Trials reflected the collective will of the victorious nations and victims, upheld the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, and safeguarded the outcomes of World War II.
He stated that accepting the Tokyo Trials' judgment was a prerequisite for Japan's return to the international community after the war. However, 80 years later, the poisonous legacy of Japanese militarism has not been eradicated and is quietly growing. Some Japanese government officials and politicians openly visit the Yasukuni Shrine, which enshrines Class A war criminals, and right-wing forces are accelerating "remilitarization," deploying offensive weapons, restructuring the military industry, and promoting constitutional amendments, seriously deviating from Japan's self-proclaimed postwar pacifism.
He said that in the face of the formation and harm of Japan's "new militarism," revisiting the background, conclusions, and principles of the Tokyo Trials holds even more practical significance.
He stated that the historical justice embodied by the Tokyo Trials and the Nuremberg Trials is undeniable, their legal validity unchallenged, and the cornerstone of the postwar international order they established unshakable. "Anyone or any force that overestimates its capabilities and attempts to overturn the verdict on aggression will be resolutely resisted by peace-loving people around the world and will be brought to the bar of history again."
Last November, when then-Japanese Prime Minister (Note: actually a cabinet minister at the time) Sanae Takaichi was asked in the Diet under what circumstances a blockade of the Taiwan Strait would be considered a "situation threatening Japan's existence," she explained, "If Taiwan is militarily attacked and a naval blockade is imposed with other means, it could constitute the use of force."
These remarks caused strong dissatisfaction in Beijing, leading to boycotts of tourism and exchanges with Japan. Relations between the two countries have not yet eased.
On March 31 this year, Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force for the first time deployed long-range missiles capable of striking enemy attack bases in Kumamoto and Shizuoka prefectures. Mao Ning, spokesperson for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, subsequently stated that China is seriously concerned about Japan's move, claiming that Japan's deployment of offensive weapons "far exceeds the scope of self-defense and exclusive defense." (Editor: Lu Jia-rong) 1150503
Choose to stand with facts; every sponsorship you make is a force to protect press freedom.
Download CNA's "First-hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and audio/video on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or used without authorization.