Open Questions for Prime Minister Wen Jiabao: Can You Prove There Was a Massacre in Nanking?

Summary

Open Questions for Prime Minister Wen Jiabao:
Can You Prove There Was a Massacre in Nanking?
(Summary)
Hiromichi Moteki
The People’s Republic of China recently offered a friendly hand to its neighbor Japan.
At the same time, however, China held a poisoned dagger at the throat of Japan. It is
unfortunate that the Chinese leadership still resorts to the use of old wartime myths such
as the “Nanking massacre” to humiliate its friend and to maintain control over its citizens.
In establishing true friendship between the Chinese and Japanese people, it is hoped that
the Chinese leadership takes the first step by denouncing such myths. However, if the
leadership persists in using the “Nanking massacre” myth, it will need to address the
fundamental flaws underlying it:
1. It is curious that during the war Chairman Mao made no mention of a “Nanking
massacre,” despite obvious anti-Japanese propaganda value. The Communist
Party have not used any quotes from the father of the People’s Republic
concerning the “massacre” – because there are none.
2. On the other side, despite 300 press conferences held by the beleaguered
Nationalist Party between December 1937 and October 1938, not one mentioning
of a “Nanking massacre” – again, despite potential propaganda value.
3. Despite capture by Japanese forces, the population of Nanking remained the same
during the initial occupation, even increasing one month into occupation.
4. Furthermore, those within the city did not witness any mass murder. The best the
International Committee for the Nanking Safety Zone could do was to compile a
mere 26 allegations of murder, of which only one was witnessed.
5. What “evidence” there is of the “Nanking massacre” are photographs, although
none have stood up to rigorous scrutiny as proof of Japanese atrocities or even of
actually having been taken in Nanking.
The Japanese people patiently await the response of the Chinese leadership to these
points of fact. Rather than confront the issue, however, it is expected that everything will
be done to perpetuate the “Nanking massacre” myth, including releasing a slew of related
films around the 70th anniversary of the fall of Nanking. A “Nanking Memorial
Museum” set up by the Communist Party serves as a permanent reminder to the Chinese
that its neighbors can never be trusted. If the Chinese leadership is genuinely interested
friendship, it will quietly close this grotesque monument to historical falsification and
move forward in the light of trust.