China Urges Japan to Confront Wartime History After New Evidence of Human Experiments
China on Monday urged Japan to confront its wartime history and fully break with militarism after Japanese media reported newly uncovered evidence suggesting that the Imperial Japanese Army conducted live human experiments involving animal-to-human blood transfusions during its invasion of China. The call came from Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun, who emphasized the brutality and inhumanity of such crimes, citing the 1949 Khabarovsk Trials as a critical source of evidence. Guo warned against Japan's remilitarization, stating it is treading a path of no return, and urged Japan to sincerely reflect on its past aggressions to earn the trust of its Asian neighbors and the international community.
China on Monday issued a strong call for Japan to confront its wartime history and fully break with militarism after Japanese media reported newly uncovered evidence of Imperial Japanese Army experiments involving live human subjects. The evidence, obtained from a 1940 meeting of Japanese military doctors, revealed that animal-to-human blood transfusions were conducted multiple times during the autumn of 1938, with 23 unidentified individuals believed to have been used as subjects.
Speaking at a regular press briefing, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun stated that China had noted the reports and highlighted the extensive historical record of Japanese militarist atrocities. "The invading Japanese army conducted large-scale live human experiments and germ warfare during its aggression against China," Guo said, describing the acts as "brutal and inhumane." He referenced the 1949 Khabarovsk Trials, which left behind comprehensive audio recordings, written records, and physical evidence that form a complete chain of evidence regarding Japan's germ warfare crimes. The trials, Guo noted, complemented and expanded upon issues not fully addressed during the Tokyo Trials.
Guo emphasized that an increasing body of evidence continues to reveal the crimes committed by Japanese militarism, and more people, including members of the Japanese public, are learning about this dark chapter of history. He stressed that only by respecting established historical facts, addressing historical shortcomings, and upholding the bottom line of peace can the tragedy of war be prevented from recurring.
Guo also issued a stark warning against Japan's remilitarization, saying it is "treading a path of no return." He urged Japan to "sincerely reflect on its crimes of aggression, make a clean break with militarism, and earn the trust of its Asian neighbors and the international community through concrete actions."
The Chinese spokesperson's comments come amid growing international awareness of Japan's wartime atrocities, including those documented in the Khabarovsk Trials. The newly uncovered evidence adds to a growing body of historical records that continue to shape the dialogue between China and Japan over historical reconciliation. For further details, refer to the original report on CGTN.
