A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson stated Sunday that the rise of neo-militarism in Japan makes it essential to renew the principles and conclusions of the Tokyo Trials. The statement coincides with the 80th anniversary of the opening of the International Military Tribunal for the Far East (IMTFE).
- The IMTFE began on May 3, 1946, involving the judicial power of 11 nations to prosecute Japanese militarists.
- Twenty-five Class-A war criminals, including Hideki Tojo, were sentenced to death by hanging or imprisonment.
- China warns that current efforts to revise Japan’s pacifist Constitution and distort history contradict its image as a “country for peace.”
The Legacy of the Tokyo Trials
The IMTFE began its prosecution on May 3, 1946, pursuant to Japan’s unconditional surrender and the IMTFE Charter. Using rigorous legal basis and solid evidence, the trials found Japanese militarists guilty of waging a war of aggression and severely violating international law.
The proceedings were designed to implement the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation, embodying the collective will of victorious nations and victimized peoples. The spokesperson noted that the trials upheld the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.
Concerns Over Neo-Militarism
The spokesperson asserted that accepting the judgment of the Tokyo Trials is the prerequisite for Japan’s postwar return to the international community. However, they stated that the “spectre of Japanese militarism” continues to grow.
Right-wing forces in Japan are accused of trying to deny and distort the trial’s judgment and whitewash war crimes through the revision of history textbooks. This includes officials and politicians visiting the Yasukuni war shrine, where convicted Class-A war criminals are honored.
Additionally, the spokesperson highlighted Japan’s efforts to accelerate remilitarization, deploy offensive weapons, and push for the revision of its pacifist Constitution. These actions are described as being diametrically opposite to the behavior of a country for peace.
The spokesperson characterized the Tokyo Trials, alongside the Nuremberg Trials, as a litmus test of humanity’s conscience that delivered historical justice. They emphasized that the legal authority of these trials and the cornerstone of the postwar international order must not be shaken.
Quoting Mei Ru’ao, a Chinese judge at the trials, the spokesperson warned that “amnesia of past sufferings may lead to future disasters.” Any attempt to reverse the verdict of aggression, the spokesperson added, will be pushed back by peace-loving people worldwide.
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