Japanese invasion of China legacy issues

Author: Wu Guangyi
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-09-16
Features: Why have the unresolved issues left by Japan's invasion of China during and after World War II been dragging on until today, even worsening? How did the historical recognition issue, which is the root of these unresolved problems, trigger and evolve? How can the impact of these unresolved issues on Japan's foreign policy direction and China-Japan relations be assessed? How can pathways to resolve these unresolved issues be sought? This book constructs a basic framework for academic research on the unresolved issues left by Japan's invasion of China. It begins with statistics on the casualties and economic losses of Chinese civilians and soldiers caused by Japan's invasion of China, holding Emperor Hirohito, the Japanese military, and the government accountable for their war crimes. Subsequently, it reviews the connotations of the unresolved issues left by Japan's invasion of China, analyzing the reasons why these issues have not been resolved. It then explores the root of these unresolved issues—the triggering and evolution of the historical recognition problem—and evaluates the current status of compensation lawsuits filed by war victims against Japan. Finally, it analyzes the crux of the unresolved issues and their impact on China-Japan relations. In the conclusion, it proposes pathways and criteria to resolve these unresolved issues and seek reconciliation, turning "swords into plowshares."