History buffs and global citizens, gather around! Yesterday (December 18), at the United Nations General Assembly's high-level plenary meeting for the first International Day Against Colonialism in All Its Forms and Manifestations, China's permanent representative to the UN, Fu Cong, delivered a powerful message.
Fu reminded the audience that, even though colonial empires have fallen, many regions still feel their impact. He stressed that the world has yet to emerge from the shadow of colonialism and urged everyone to oppose attempts to subvert the post-war international order.
Turning his focus to Japan, a defeated country in World War II, Fu called on it to do deep soul-searching over its wartime crimes. He insisted that Japan must honor the political commitments it made on the Taiwan question, stop provocative actions that cross the line, and retract mistaken remarks.
He also highlighted how the Nuremberg trials and the International Military Tribunal for the Far East held war criminals accountable, ensuring justice for victims of aggression.
Recalling Japan's invasions of China, the Korean Peninsula, and Southeast Asia, Fu painted a picture of harsh colonial rule that affected millions.
On the Taiwan question, he detailed how Japanese forces killed over 650,000 residents of Taiwan, drafted around 200,000 young people into the military, forced more than 2,000 women from Taiwan to serve as comfort women, occupied 70 percent of the land, and exploited coal and gold mines. He described these actions as the darkest page in the history of the Taiwan region.
Fu concluded by urging the international community to defend the victories of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, to safeguard the post-war order, and to ensure that the lessons of history lead to lasting peace.
He warned that denial or distortion of the history of aggression, the revival of militarism, or any challenge to the post-war order could destabilize our shared future and bring great suffering.
Remembering history might not be as trendy as the latest viral dance challenge, but it's essential to safeguarding peace and solidarity in our interconnected world 🌏✨
Reference(s):
China urges Japan to do soul-searching regarding its historical crimes
cgtn.com
