For years I’ve been wanting to write this tale. The inspiration began to germinate following numerous trips to Asia beginning three decades ago—mostly to Japan and China, but also to Korea. It was through these visits that I began to appreciate the magnitude of Asian culture on the development of human society.
Then, more than fifteen years ago, I heard a story on National Public Radio about an author named Iris Chang, and her book The Rape of Nanking. This historical account retells events from December 1937 and into early 1938, as the Imperial Japanese Army occupied Nanking, the ancient capital of China. At the time, the population of Nanking was around one million. The atrocities that occurred over a period of several months, leaving more than 300,000 civilians dead, are well documented, yet little known.
The Rape of Nanking chronicles the Japanese blood lust, with civilians murdered by a variety of grisly methods, women raped, families destroyed. Historians call this rampage the Nanking Massacre, or the forgotten holocaust. Iris Chang’s book spent ten weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, and it served her purpose of keeping the memory alive.
It is difficult to imagine, let alone understand, the depth of barbaric cruelty that humans inflict on one another. At times, such behavior seems motivated by hatred stemming from religion, race, or ideological factors. At other times, it seems to be purely for entertainment or sport. And so I found myself trying to understand the Twentieth Century conflict in Asia and the impact those events still have on the modern world. Make no mistake, the impact is very real.
It may be difficult for some Americans to understand the deep resentment that exists to this day between Chinese and Korean populations on one hand and Japanese populations on the other hand. The forgotten holocaust and the Korean comfort women—women who were forced into sexual slavery by the Imperial Japanese Army—certainly provide graphic examples for the animosity. But the analysis needs to go deeper, as there is much more at play.
The fact that the government of Japan has never apologized for its role in precipitating war on the Chinese and Korean populations during the middle part of the Twentieth Century, and the crimes against humanity that ensued, keeps the resentment alive. Recall that Germany has worked hard to make amends for the actions of the Nazi government, including public apologies, a staunch pro-Israel policy, and a program of paying reparations that dates to 1953.
In contrast, the Japanese government refuses to publicly apologize or pay reparations. Furthermore, unlike Nazi Germany, Imperial Japan was never held fully accountable for war crimes by the victorious allies in the years following the close of WWII. This is a fact not lost on Chinese and Koreans, who see Japan as unrepentant. This image is strengthened when Japanese politicians visit the historic Yasukuni Shrine, a memorial to Japan’s deceased soldiers, including those who committed class-A war crimes.
Perhaps the words of the late Iris Chang say it best: “If the Japanese government doesn’t reckon with the crimes of its wartime leaders, history is going to leave them as tainted as their ancestors. You can’t blame this generation for what happened years ago, but you can blame them for not acknowledging these crimes.”1
History is inescapable, and both China and Japan have long histories of advanced civilization and culture. In both countries, this rich cultural heritage spans millennia. Exploring the National Museum in Taipei, Taiwan, affords a glimpse at this Chinese cultural heritage and wondrous works of art that demonstrate not only the remarkable ability of craftsmen, but also an exhibition of advanced science and technology in the form of exquisite pottery and glazes. And let’s not forget gunpowder, paper, printing, and the magnetic compass—all invented in China.
Chinese were also excellent navigators and cartographers, having explored the world’s oceans long before the famous Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish explorers of the Elizabethan era. With a vast supply of historical maps, it’s easy to understand why many Chinese honestly believe they have a legitimate claim to much, if not all, of the East China Sea and the South China Sea. Indeed, even many Western historians acknowledge the seafaring prowess of Chinese sailors under the government of Emperor Zhu Di in the early Fifteenth Century.2
Fast forward to the present day, and we have many disputes over islands dotting the seas from Malaysia northeast to the Kamchatka Peninsula. For the most part, these islands are uninhabited, and yet they are provoking strong international disagreements, bordering on hostility. Competing claims of sovereignty rely on historical claims. But without consensus on the legitimacy of those historical records, resolution remains elusive.
Is history bound to repeat? Is another war between two Asian giants—China and Japan—inevitable? Until old wounds heal, and past wrongs are repented, my fear is that we are locked on a course that will place the United States in the middle of a major conflict.
Perhaps, when all is considered, the root cause is nothing more than pride—a powerful emotion, one that drives people (and nations) to illogical actions. It is time to place rational thought ahead of national pride; to admit past transgressions and pledge to a peaceful path forward; to negotiate, in fairness and good faith, resolutions to overlapping historical claims. This is not a one-sided equation, and to succeed, cooperation of all parties is required. However, history also shows us that military victories never truly conquer national pride.
There is a lesson here for all nations—including ours. Something to think about…
DE