Changchun Wenbo Forum, No. 6, 2019: Tokyo Trial and China
Theme: Tokyo Trial and China
Speaker: Professor and Ph.D. supervisor of Japan Research Institute, Nankai University, Song Zhiyong
Organizer: Puppet Manchu Palace Museum
Co-sponsors: School of Literature, Jilin University, School of Political Science and Law, Northeast Normal University, College of History and Culture, College of Foreign Languages and Computer Science, College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, College of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering and School of Economic Management, College of Foreign Languages, Changchun University of Technology, College of Foreign Languages and College of Architecture, Changchun College/Jilin Provincial Chronicle Compilation Committee/Changchun Museum Alliance Unit
Lecture time: May 8, 2019, 13:30 p.m.
Lecture venue: Academic lecture hall on the second floor of Northeast Occupied History Exhibition Hall, Puppet Manchuria Palace Museum
Guest Profile:
Mr. Song Zhiyong graduated from Nankai University in 1988. He has successively worked in the Institute of History, the Chinese Embassy in Japan, and the Japanese Institute of Nankai University. He is currently a professor and doctoral supervisor of the Japanese Academy of Nankai University. He is also the director of the Japanese Research Center of Nankai University and the Secretary-General of the Japan History Society of China.
Song Zhiyong
Professor Song Zhiyong studied or did research work in Tokyo University, Waseda University, Rikuo University and other universities in Japan. His major research fields are the history of modern Sino-Japanese relations and Japanese diplomatic history. He presided over and undertook many projects of Humanities and social sciences of the Ministry of Education, such as "the evolution of international relations in East Asia in the 20th century", "Japan's understanding of China and its choice of action since modern times", "Japan, the United States and Europe's cultural diplomacy and comparison", and Japan's International Exchange Fund. The main research results are "History of Japan's Relations with China in Modern and Contemporary Times", "Japan's View on China in Modern Times", "On the Tokyo Trial" and many other works.
Review of the Forum:
In November 1943, China, Britain and the United States issued the Cairo Declaration, declaring that "the three major allies will fight to stop and punish Japan's aggression". In July 1945, China, Britain and the United States issued the Potsdam Proclamation urging Japan to surrender immediately and unconditionally. The announcement made it clear: "We have no intention of enslaving the Japanese nation or destroying its country, but severe legal sanctions will be imposed on war criminals, including those who abuse our captives." On August 15, 1945, Japan declared its acceptance of the Potsdam Proclamation and surrendered to its allies. The letter of surrender clearly stipulates that Japan will faithfully implement the provisions of the Potsdam Proclamation, which of course includes the punishment of war criminals. It can be said that the punishment of Japanese war criminals in the Tokyo trial was based on the common will of the anti-fascist allies in wartime and the Japanese surrender.
On the issue of the trial of Japanese war criminals, the National Government has mainly adopted the basic principle of "revenging the enemy by virtue", expressing that "only the militant warlords of Japan are regarded as enemies, not the people of Japan as enemies"; "Responding to the past atrocities of the enemy by atrocities and to the superiority of slavery in response to their previous errors will be rewarded with grievances and will never end." In order to establish a permanent peace between China and Japan in the future, and to show our country's spirit of rewarding good for bad, we should punish the most important war criminals in the world and at home in accordance with the law, in order to punish them more than 100 years. He should be lenient in dealing with ordinary war criminals in order to show my lenient attitude.
The National Government of Tokyo Trial sent one judge and one assistant prosecutor to participate in the trial, which provided a large number of witnesses and evidence for the Tokyo Trial, and actively persuaded judges of other countries to impose severe punishment on nine principal offenders of aggression against China, such as Kenji Iwahara and Shiro Bangawa, in their voting decisions, so as to win the fifth chapter of the court verdict, "Japan". The right to write "aggression against China" made an important contribution during the Tokyo trial.
During the Tokyo trial, Puyi, the last emperor, attended the court as a witness for many times. With sufficient evidence, the Far East International Military Court has exposed the historical background that Japan coveted northeast China in modern times, that Manchu and Mongolia are the lifeline of Japan, that they must control the "national consciousness" under Japan, and that they created incidents under the guidance of the Guandong Army. Launching the "918" Incident and then occupying the Northeast of China in an all-round way. The court made a clear determination of the colonial nature of the puppet Manchu regime in the history of Japan's invasion of Northeast China.
How to evaluate the relationship between China and Tokyo trial? Professor Song Zhiyong concluded that, first, the post-war Kuomintang Government and Chiang Kai-shek adopted the policy of benevolence, leniency and revenge for the resentment of Japanese war criminals. Its main purpose is to end the war and hostile relations between China and Japan, achieve national reconciliation, avoid continuing the hatred of the Chinese and Japanese nationalities and rebuild peace in East Asia. 2. In the Tokyo trial, China contributed a lot, but affected by the situation and conditions at home and abroad, there are some unsatisfactory points. 3. The Tokyo trial is a just and fair international trial with great political and historical significance. It shows the whole world that war crimes must be punished. To deny the Tokyo trial is to deny the history of Japan's aggressive war and must not be tolerated.
At the end of the symposium, Professor Song Zhiyong had an enthusiastic interaction with the audience who came here to admire his fame. We consulted Professor Song Zhiyong about the Tokyo trial and the post-war handling of historical issues in Japan. Professor Song Zhiyong gave excellent answers one by one.
This lecture includes