Lina Irawan
A solemn memorial service to mark the 80th anniversary of the Nanjing Massacre, an atrocity committed during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45), convened hundreds of activists and members of the Chinese and other Asian communities in San Francisco on Sunday. The event served as a poignant reminder of one of the darkest chapters in 20th-century history, reiterating persistent calls for historical truth, justice, and lasting peace.
Commemorating a Dark Chapter
The annual memorial, a tradition upheld for the past two decades, was meticulously organized by a consortium of dedicated groups: the Rape of Nanking Redress Coalition, the Committee to Promote Reunification of China, the Alliance for Preserving the Truth of Sino-Japanese War, and the Comfort Women Justice Coalition. Their collective objective remains steadfast: to unequivocally expose the war crimes perpetrated by the Japanese Imperial Army and to foster a profound understanding among people, ensuring that the harrowing events of the past are never forgotten. The gathering underscored the enduring pain and the unyielding resolve of communities dedicated to historical remembrance and accountability.
Zha Liyou, the acting Chinese consul general in San Francisco, delivered a powerful address at the service, emphasizing the egregious violations of international law. "The Japanese army blatantly violated international conventions and committed the extremely cruel atrocity in Nanjing, where 300,000 Chinese were murdered and one-third of the buildings were destroyed," he stated, highlighting the sheer scale of the devastation and human suffering. His words resonated with the urgency of confronting historical facts and acknowledging the profound impact of the massacre.
The Historical Context: Japan’s Invasion of China
The Nanjing Massacre did not occur in isolation but was a horrific culmination of Japan’s aggressive expansionist policies in Asia. The roots of the conflict trace back to September 1931, when Japan initiated its invasion of Northeast China, an event often referred to as the Manchurian Incident. This marked the beginning of a prolonged and brutal occupation that would last for 14 years.
The full-scale invasion of China commenced on July 7, 1937, following the Marco Polo Bridge Incident near Beijing. This act ignited the Second Sino-Japanese War, a major theatre of World War II in Asia. The Imperial Japanese Army, driven by a strategic imperative to conquer China and establish a "Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere," rapidly advanced southward. After intense and brutal fighting, particularly the Battle of Shanghai (August-November 1937), which resulted in catastrophic casualties for both sides, the Japanese forces turned their attention towards Nanjing.
Nanjing, then the capital of the Republic of China, held immense symbolic and strategic importance. Its fall was intended to deal a decisive blow to Chinese resistance and demoralize the Nationalist government. However, the ferocity and cruelty unleashed upon its capture would far exceed any military necessity, leaving an indelible stain on human history.
The Fall of Nanjing and Unspeakable Atrocities
Japanese troops captured Nanjing on December 13, 1937. What ensued was a systematic campaign of murder, rape, looting, and destruction that lasted for more than 40 days. Contemporary historical accounts and subsequent investigations, including the International Military Tribunal for the Far East (Tokyo Trials) and the Nanjing War Crimes Tribunal, corroborate the horrific scale of the atrocities.
Estimates place the number of Chinese civilians and disarmed soldiers murdered at approximately 300,000. These killings were often carried out with extreme brutality, including mass executions, bayonet practice, beheadings, and burning. Beyond the killings, the Japanese Imperial Army engaged in widespread sexual violence, with tens of thousands of women, ranging from young girls to the elderly, subjected to rape. Many were then brutally murdered. The city itself suffered immense damage, with roughly one-third of its buildings either destroyed or looted, including homes, businesses, and cultural sites.
Foreign nationals and missionaries who remained in Nanjing during this period established the Nanjing Safety Zone, an area designated to protect civilians. Their courageous efforts, documented in diaries, letters, and photographs, provided crucial eyewitness accounts that later served as irrefutable evidence of the atrocities. Figures like John Rabe, a German businessman, and Minnie Vautrin, an American missionary, risked their lives to shelter thousands of Chinese refugees, their testimonies forming a vital part of the historical record.
A Call for Truth and Reconciliation in San Francisco
The San Francisco memorial served as a powerful platform for advocating truth and reconciliation. Judith Mirkinson, president of the Comfort Women Justice Coalition, drew a crucial link between the Nanjing Massacre and the broader issue of "comfort women," a euphemism for the estimated 200,000 to 400,000 women, primarily from Korea, China, and other occupied territories, who were forcibly conscripted into sexual slavery by the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II.
"Our stories are linked. The fate of over 400,000 women sexually enslaved by the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II is part and parcel of what happened during the Nanjing Massacre," Mirkinson asserted. Her statement underscored the systemic nature of the violence perpetrated by the Japanese military and the interconnectedness of various wartime atrocities.
Mirkinson articulated a fundamental principle for achieving peace in the 21st century: "The 20th century has been called the most violent century in the history of the world, and one way to ensure peace in the 21st century is through truth and reconciliation." She emphasized that genuine reconciliation is impossible without an honest reckoning with the past. "Reconciliation does not come without truth. So the Japanese government must acknowledge their crimes," she urged. Furthermore, she stressed the imperative to provide justice to the few remaining survivors of the Nanjing Massacre and to honor the memory of all who suffered.
Global Efforts to Preserve Memory and Seek Accountability
The commemoration in San Francisco is part of a broader, global effort by the Chinese community and human rights advocates worldwide to remember this historic event. The Chinese government officially designated December 13 as National Memorial Day for Nanjing Massacre Victims, elevating its remembrance to a national level. This designation ensures that the victims are honored annually and that the memory of the massacre is enshrined in the national consciousness.
International recognition for the Nanjing Massacre also came in 2015 when relevant documents were entered onto the UNESCO Memory of the World Register. This prestigious compendium aims at preserving documented heritage of universal value, signifying the international community’s acknowledgment of the massacre’s historical significance and the importance of safeguarding its historical records for future generations. The inclusion on the UNESCO register validates the historical facts surrounding the massacre and underscores the international consensus on the necessity of remembering such events.
The total human cost of Japan’s occupation of China from September 1931 to 1945 was staggering. Approximately 35 million Chinese soldiers and civilians were killed or injured, making it one of the most devastating conflicts in human history. These figures underscore the immense sacrifice and suffering endured by the Chinese people during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.
The Complexities of Historical Acknowledgment
The calls for acknowledgment and justice voiced at the San Francisco memorial highlight the ongoing complexities in Sino-Japanese relations and Japan’s historical stance on its wartime actions. While successive Japanese governments have expressed "deep remorse" and "heartfelt apologies" for the suffering caused to Asian peoples during the war, these statements have often been criticized by victims’ groups and the Chinese and South Korean governments as insufficient. Critics argue that Japan has not fully and explicitly acknowledged state responsibility for specific atrocities, such as the full extent of the Nanjing Massacre or the systematic coercion of "comfort women."
Furthermore, periodic historical revisionism by some nationalist elements within Japan, who seek to downplay or deny the scale of the atrocities, continues to fuel resentment and distrust in neighboring countries. This ongoing debate underscores the deep emotional and political chasm that historical issues continue to create in East Asia. The demand for truth, as articulated by the speakers in San Francisco, is not merely about assigning blame but about establishing a shared historical narrative that can form the basis for genuine reconciliation and prevent the recurrence of such horrors.
Broader Implications for Regional Peace and Human Rights
The message from Consul General Zha Liyou emphasized that remembering these atrocities is not about perpetuating enmity but about inspiring a love for peace. "To remember the atrocities committed by the Japanese army during World War II does not mean to pass on the enmity but rather to remind people not to forget the history and inspire them to love peace," he affirmed. This perspective frames historical remembrance as a crucial tool for fostering peace and preventing future conflicts, rather than as a means of prolonging historical grievances.
The Nanjing Massacre and the "comfort women" issue serve as stark reminders of the profound human rights violations that can occur during armed conflict. The persistent advocacy by groups like the Comfort Women Justice Coalition ensures that these issues remain relevant in contemporary human rights discourse. Their efforts contribute to the global understanding of gender-based violence in conflict and the importance of accountability for perpetrators.
The San Francisco memorial, organized by diaspora communities, also exemplifies the critical role of overseas populations in preserving historical memory and advocating for justice on an international stage. These communities often act as powerful voices, ensuring that events like the Nanjing Massacre remain in the global consciousness, pushing for official recognition, and supporting educational initiatives.
Lessons for the Future: Remembering to Prevent
Eighty years after the horrific events in Nanjing, the lessons derived from the massacre remain profoundly relevant. The memorial in San Francisco underscored the imperative of historical truth, not as a means to condemn, but as a foundation for understanding, reconciliation, and peace. By confronting the brutality of the past, societies can better equip themselves to identify and prevent similar atrocities in the future. The collective memory of the Nanjing Massacre serves as a solemn warning against the dangers of unchecked militarism, ultranationalism, and the dehumanization of ‘the other’. The continuous efforts to commemorate, educate, and seek justice are vital steps towards building a world where such a dark chapter is truly never repeated.
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Lina Hope
