politics

China rereleases Japanese war crimes 'confessions' - again

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Oh well . . . .nobody is reading them. . . . Back to the FUTURE - guys. . . Its how you live Now.

4 ( +11 / -7 )

This gets real old, so I do not hear you oh worshiper of the biggest mass murderer in history.

2 ( +9 / -7 )

Good for humanity that at least someone is trying to raise awareness. Japan will not be allowed to sweep these atrocities under the rug

-12 ( +7 / -19 )

Why is the word 'confessions' in quotation marks in the headline? It seems to imply that these accounts of atrocities are fabricated. It's become the pattern now that articles (and subsequent comments) about Japanese war crimes come attached with the supposed counter argument, 'Well, the Chinese did terrible things too', which they did, of course, but how does an atrocity on one side negate an atrocity by the other side? On another aspect, it's worth checking out the accounts of vivisection by Japanese doctors training in China during the war. These 'doctors' committed more acts of cruelty and inhumanity than Unit 731 - if it's possible to be more cruel. This is what happens when one group of people regard another as less than human.

-6 ( +6 / -12 )

"Hand written confessions" by POWs illegally held years and sometimes decades after the war was over by the Communists while receiving re-education 24/7 to "correct their thinking" as they did to many Chinese who opposed them doesn't exactly reek of credibility,

1 ( +13 / -12 )

I wonder why they're charging so much, Chinese books used to be really cheap.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Where's the volumes on Tienanmen soldiers?

14 ( +18 / -4 )

Another day, another China antagonizing Japan.

Nothing to see here folks move on.

6 ( +10 / -4 )

They'll be shooting all the sparrows again, next.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

OssanAmerica said:

"Hand written confessions" by POWs illegally held years and sometimes decades after the war was over by the Communists while receiving re-education 24/7 to "correct their thinking" as they did to many Chinese who opposed them doesn't exactly reek of credibility,

Well, dismissing the conscience-stricken confessions of dozens of war criminals as fabrications just because they create a negative impression of Japan, doesn't exactly reek of ethical responsibility, does it?

Anything that makes Japan look bad -- especially if it comes from China or Korea, no matter what the source material -- must be lies, lies, lies. So typical.

-8 ( +7 / -15 )

The books are Beijing’s latest bid to highlight the Asian rivals’ bloody history

I'm more interested in hearing the confessions of the Chinese soldiers who butchered there own people, who invaded and butchered the Tibetans, and the Uighars, and all the other atrocities they've committed over the past half century. So when are those coming out China? Are you going to own up to your own crimson history? I mean, if you're gong to try and paint yourself as being better than Japan, you need to prove that. Oh but wait, you're not better than Japan. You paint the Japanese as being vicious bloodthirsty monsters when your own history is far from laudable. You bring up Japan's actions from ~70 years ago, but say nothing of your own actions over the past 70 years. Yeah, we should all hate the pacifist nation that's only increasing its defence budget in response to an assertive China and unpredictable North Korea, and we instead should love the vicious, militaristic, expansionist China that has increased it's defence budget by double figures for the past two decades, that invaded a pacifist nation, that argues with another pacifist nation (Japan) over islands that it didn't care about until oil was discovered, and that aggressively sets up an oil drilling operation in the disputed waters of another smaller country (Vietnam). Yeah right, and I'm Ronnie Barker.

Anything that makes Japan look bad -- especially if it comes from China or Korea, no matter what the source material -- must be lies, lies, lies. So typical.

When said "confessions" come about as the result of years of physical and psychological torture and indoctrination yes, they must be lies. People will tell you anything you want to hear if you hurt them enough. Hell, force me to listen to Justin Bieber and I'll confess to shooting JFK, despite his assassination being more than two decades before my birth. All jokes aside, there is zero credibility in anything these POWs "confess" to doing. It doesn't take much to break someone's willpower. Mere intimidation is enough in some cases. What isn't intimidating in being held prisoner in another country, surrounded by armed men who would sorely love to riddle you with bullet holes? In other cases, more is needed to make someone crack. Some of these POWs were held for years. What was done to them has (to me knowledge) never been revealed. Any number of torture methods could have been applied to them. So no, I won't be believing their "confessions", and nor should anyone else.

9 ( +14 / -5 )

Ho hum, more Chinese antagonism. What a shock.

The war ended 70 years ago, guys. Not relevant.

5 ( +10 / -5 )

But Beijing is far less willing to recognise the role of the ruling Communist Party in domestic disasters such as Mao Zedong’s Great Leap Forward and the ensuing famine that killed tens of millions of people.

And what does this have to do with the Japanese? Both of these are totally different subjects each worthy of their own discussion. You defeat the point of the story by attempting to interlink them together.

But then again it would be something the Japanese would do as well so I guess all is fair in war.

-1 ( +6 / -7 )

It would be nice if japan could pull some resources together and get some Tibetans to tell their story.. perhaps release those volumes for the price of on the house/

4 ( +7 / -3 )

And what does this have to do with the Japanese? Both of these are totally different subjects each worthy of their own discussion.

That's the point. The Chinese crimes are also worthy of discussion but they don't get much discussion in China. You answered your own question.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

Communist propaganda machine at work. Here's from an article I thought was unrelated. Anyone see a pattern?

These are people who believe you invent your own truth by saying the same thing over again and again with the utmost petulance. Admiral Turner Joy, who headed the UN delegation to armistice talks in Korea reported that Chinese and North Korean emissaries got their way by being as wearisome as possible. They repeated their demands — however outlandish — until their UN interlocutors capitulated just to shut them up. Any parent with a bratty kid can relate.

http://thediplomat.com/2014/08/exposing-chinas-provocations/

5 ( +7 / -2 )

That's the point. The Chinese crimes are also worthy of discussion but they don't get much discussion in China. You answered your own question.

No you don't get it, what happened with Mao has nothing to do with the Chinese doing what they are here. And so what if the "other" subject doesnt get much discussion in China.

Before folks in Japan complain about what the Chinese are doing they should get the forest out of their own eyes first.

-4 ( +4 / -8 )

As a student of history, and of World War II, it bothers me greatly that almost no Japanese know about the thousands of war crimes committed in their name.

-5 ( +5 / -10 )

slowguy2Sep. 01, 2014 - 11:10AM JST OssanAmerica said: "Hand written confessions" by POWs illegally held years and sometimes decades after the war was over by the Communists while receiving re-education 24/7 to "correct their thinking" as they did to many Chinese who opposed them doesn't exactly reek of credibility, Well, dismissing the conscience-stricken confessions of dozens of war criminals as fabrications just because they >create a negative impression of Japan, doesn't exactly reek of ethical responsibility, does it?

I suggest you read up on Communist China's prisoner treatment practices. http://www.globalresearch.ca/u-s-pows-during-the-korean-war/10050 http://atroche.org/post/61633164818/how-china-brainwashed-american-pows-using-a-classic

2 ( +7 / -5 )

Anyway they arw good in this making pirated copy its no surprice they will exagerate thats look they are the victim what a shame

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Before folks in Japan complain about what the Chinese are doing they should get the forest out of their own eyes first.

We don't. It is the Chinese that are constantly bringing up the past. Hence this article.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

My question about this is :

WHO is STUPID here?

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

China rereleases Japanese war crimes 'confessions' - again

Confessions under duress only hold up in Totalitarian/Authoritarian states.

http://www.nytimes.com/2001/09/09/world/chinese-fight-crime-with-torture-and-executions.html

Here is a snippet for those that just don't want to know the truth.

The wrongful conviction of Mr. Liu, and others like him, suggests that by the time the campaign ends in 2003 dozens -- if not hundreds -- of innocent people will have died in the capital punishment spree.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Fine...but if they want a more balanced view of things they should release it as as box set in conjunction with 'The Secret life of Chairman Mao' and 'Mao: A Secret History'. It is also abundantly clear that this is also aimed at the more affluent class as they are priced at 500 bucks a set...I guess they figure the peasants are a shoo-in.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

*

1glennSep. 01, 2014 - 06:00PM JST

As a student of history, and of World War II, it bothers me greatly that almost no Japanese know about the thousands of war crimes committed in their name.*

I can't imagine why so many people dislike this inoffensive comment. Specific events and issues aside, the behavior of the Japanese on the continent is both well known and uncontroversial. Is a general ignorance of history preferable to historical knowledge in the population of a country? Do people disagree with the idea that Imperial Japan committed war crimes or that there were '1000's' of them?

And yes, it also greatly bothers students of history that Canadians don't know much about their governments dealings with the aboriginals, North Americans about racism against early Asian immigrants, Chinese about Mao, and Japanese about the struggles of the minorities in their midst.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

1glennSep. 01, 2014 - 06:00PM JST As a student of history, and of World War II, it bothers me greatly that almost no Japanese know about the thousands of war crimes committed in their name.

If you are really a student of history you would know that it is written by the victors.

How many people were killed by the JIM? Now, compare that to the amount of people that were killed and are still being killed by the CPC.

If you really are a student of history you would feel more shame and disdain for the CPC than the JIM. Because, after the war Japan's atrocities ended, but the atrocities committed by the CPC just kept going.

The CPC has been murdering and oppressing Chinese and other ethnic people's since 1924, while the JIM atrocities ended in the 1940's.

But, if you're blinded by your ideology you're not really a student of history, you're just a revisionist of it!

Try this one on for size, "almost no Communist China citizen dares to know about the millions of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in their name."

Communist China continues to commit crimes against humanity while Japan hasn't committed one in over 70 years!

Tell me, which is worse, the nation that used to commit crimes or the nation that continues to committing them?

Won't hold my breath for your reply.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Try this one on for size, "almost no Communist China citizen dares to know about the millions of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in their name."

Communist China doesn't even exist.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@ JoeBigs

If you are really a student of history you would know that it is written by the victors.

Very true. The victors emphasize the crimes of the losers while conveniently forgetting their own. So what does this have to do with Imperial Japan's war crimes? Are you saying that the victors flat out lied about Japan's war crimes?

Communist China continues to commit crimes against humanity while Japan hasn't committed one in over 70 years!

True, Imperial Japan has not committed a war crime in China for 70 years. Of course, Imperial Japan no longer exists and your point eludes me. Do China's atrocities offset Imperial Japan's atrocities? Would your misdeeds cancel out mine?

Historical accuracy aside, I get that almost all sides are chock full of hypocrites... but I thought we were talking about historical accuracy.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

yushiSep. 03, 2014 - 11:37PM JST So what does this have to do with Imperial Japan's war crimes?

It has a great deal to do with it, today folks are pointing fingers against a military force that was defeat, tried, convicted and in many cases executed. With the deaths of those in charge their crimes should have been laid to rest and for 40 years or so they were.

Those dead lay dead only until the time came when Communist China and South Korea want something. No, they don't want apologies, they got those on more than one occasion. What they want is as clear as an island on the horizon.

South Korea wants to revisit the 1965 treaty, because they feel they can get Japan to pay the compensation they were suppose to pay. And since they have fallen for the Reunification Carrot Trap (again) they think they will need a whole lot of cash and what better place to get it than from Japan?

As for Communist China, their goals are much simpler, they want Japan out of the picture. They want Japan pacified so they can have free reign to do as they will in the neighboring seas.

yushiSep. 03, 2014 - 11:37PM JST Are you saying that the victors flat out lied about Japan's war crimes?

Not at all, the JIM was a brutal force that committed many crimes against humanity and paid dearly for those crimes.

yushiSep. 03, 2014 - 11:37PM JST True, Imperial Japan has not committed a war crime in China for 70 years. Of course, Imperial Japan no longer exists and your point eludes me. Do China's atrocities offset Imperial Japan's atrocities? Would your misdeeds cancel out mine?

To start, Imperial Japan is no more, it was destroyed close to 70 years ago and it paid for it's crimes against humanity and it's war crimes. But, Communist China and it's leadership is trying to point a finger at that long dead empire while continuing to commit crimes against humanity for the last 70 years.

The funny part of this farce is that even South Korea has committed War crimes and crimes against humanity, but it too tries to deny them and has never truly faced what they have done in the last 70 years..

It's easier to point a finger at the past when you are trying to cover-up your own present crimes.

yushiSep. 03, 2014 - 11:37PM JST Historical accuracy aside, I get that almost all sides are chock full of hypocrites... but I thought we were talking about historical accuracy.

This is a propaganda war being waged against modern Japan for the crimes committed more than 70 years ago by a long dead empire. It doesn't matter to them that that empire paid for it's crimes. It doesn't matter to them that treaties were signed and compensation was paid in different forms. It doesn't even matter to them that (they) South Korea and Communist China forgave Japan for the past. What matters is they are using the past to try and extort more out of Japan.

This is a propaganda war historical accuracy was flung out the window a long time ago.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

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