China Law Blog

Japan has never fully 'fessed up to what they did, and Nanjing pales to the experiments done in the NE, often with collaboration with Nazi scientists (ever wonder how we know so much about human pain and what women go through during pregnancy?).

But at the same time, Mao refused Japanese reparations and the CCP in general sees Japan as a useful external enemy for promoting support of an otherwise useless bunch of old men.

Germany, if left unoccupied, would have also gotten away with alot more. But the NATO allies and Russia occupied Germany for 50 years and along with the new Isreal made sure that Germany paid again and again and again. Because Germany had no other choice, they were captives in their own country.

Do any of the lawyers here understand this (from Der Spiegel)? It seems to imply Chinese courts make it impossible for Chinese people to seek compensation in Japan. Though perhaps it means compensation from the Chinese government(?)

"Wu can expect no compensation from Japan. Although a Japanese court acknowledged the damages caused by biological weapons, Chinese law disallowed the decision: Individuals have no right to file for compensation incurred by war."

What's wrong with Japan anyways? I know China is an authoritarian regime, but isn't Japan supposedly a democratic country, a supposed ally of the United States? Why do they continuously seek to whitewash history? It seems like only when they hit a nerve with their own population, like their recent attempt to revise the history of Okinawa, do the locals come out. China behaves like an oppressive regime because it is an oppressive regime. Why is Japan doing this?

Japan certainly had learn their tricks from the master, the Chinese government. Japan learnt how to kill Chinese, and learnt how to change their history. Japan is just not a good student. The Chinese government was much more effective in killing Chinese.

Yes, the Chinese court disallowed Chinese to sue Japan for compensation for the atrocities that Mao thank Japan for, and the Chinese government agreed not to pursue, in exchange for diplomatic recognition from Japan. I did not expect the Chinese government to honor that agreement, but, for the time being, the CPC is still keeping that promise, and we must give them credit for it.

I think Nanjing should never be forgotten. But I don't feel comfortable with China's selective memory, and I think a lot of the '89 demonstrators would likely agree with me, as would their families.

It's hard for me to stay neutral on this, but seeing China whitewash present day events on the daily evening news -- well, yes, I'm with them in their call to remember Nanjing, but it just doesn't feel right to yell at Japan for trying to harmonize their history, considering that China does it even more. Every single day.

Even more disturbing is the fact that many Chinese are misdirecting their hate towards all Japanese people. Not the government, not the right, not the historians -- but all Japanese people.

I won't forget the day that my Japanese friend's 8-year-old daughter came home from her international school here in Dalian, and posed the question to her mom "Why do Chinese people hate us so much?"

I have no expertise to offer on this particular issue.

But I can offer the below excerpt I received a while back from a sociology colleague who has studied this issue, taught and worked in both Japan and China, and does have such expertise, in my view.

"After the war, Japan was forced to adopt a new constitution primarily written by Americans but agreed to by the Japanese. It is still highly controversial. And is currently being considered for revision. However, one of the results of this is that the present government created by that new constitution does not see itself as a continuation of the government in power during the war and therefore not responsible for its actions, either good or bad. How to present those years is still a problem for the Japanese. It is difficult to criticize your ancestors, especially those most recently deceased. How do you instill patriotism in the next generation if there is little you can point to that you deem honorable? So you must re-interpret it and focus on Japanese issues rather than on negative aspects. Thus the textbook controversy. It strong relates to issues of Japanese identity. Ask Vietnam vets how they are dealing with the way they and the war are presented in American society to get an idea of the deep contradictions and pain dealing with these kinds of issues generates."

By the way, is that THE Wieland Wagner... I mean the scion of the family who had a falling out due to their relationship with Hitler?

pandapassport - what China wants is really irrelevant to whether Japan fesses up to its past. As I've said, China is an oppressive regime - their record on human rights is abysmal. But isn't Japan supposed to be a democratic, responsible member of the world community? So you're saying "sure, Japan is bad, but China is worse?" What kind of standard is that? As for Chris Carr's post, I don't see why you need to whitewash history to deal with your past. Should we deny slavery ever happened to make us feel better about our history? That's patently absurd. Japan is wrong - they need to come clean with their past. It's amazing the number of Japanese apologists there are.. I wonder how many of you are also Holocaust deniers. As for China's transgressions, that can be dealt with once China becomes a democratic society.

I'm just wondering what a game theorist would do; what's the most effective way to pressure countries on their nasty pasts. Do you pressure everyone at once, or do you pressure one country at a time? Is the past more important than the present, as the past will be more easily and remorselessly forgotten, or does the present crime have a specific gravity? Is there a way to reduce petitioning governments to game theory?

I totally agree with Andy.

@Huck and Tom

As for facing one's own past, CCP is just as guilty as the Japanese government. However, confusing a first degree murder case with a wrongful death case is inexcusable. The disastrous results of the GLF and CR were caused by ill-conceived bad policies, the Chinese government never intended to kill anyone. The Nanking massacre was a premeditated systematic raping and killing of a city, not to mention Unit 731 in Dongbei. Using the former to whitewash (or justify) the latter is appalling. I have serious doubts on your judgment and intention.