Spokesperson's Remarks｜Russia's Documents show once again Japan's wartime bacterial warfare beyond doubt

When asked to comment on reports that the recently declassified documents released by the Russian government show that during World War II, Japanese invaders in China planned an attack on the Soviet Union from Northeast China, and prepared for a bacterial warfare able to cause mass casualties, and for this purpose established Unit 731 in Harbin, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a regular press conference on Thursday that the documents released by the Russian government show once again there are solid proofs for the bacterial warfare launched by Japanese militarists and there's no room for denial.

As reported, documents show that Unit 731 in Harbin conducted research on various types of plague, anthrax, cholera and other bacterial diseases. They also carried out human experimentation, and detained Chinese and Russian people as well as Japanese death-row prisoners for these purposes.

Mao pointed out that during World War II, in blatant violation of international law, the Japanese army launched horrendous bacterial warfare against the Chinese people and conducted gruesome human experimentation, which were heinous crimes against humanity.

Mao noted that to earn respect, one must first respect history. To open up the future, one must draw lessons from the past. To not repeat the wrong path, one must learn never to forget. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

"We urge Japan to deeply reflect on its history of aggression, respect the sentiments of the people of China and other victim nations, make a clean break with militarism, take concrete actions to get rid of the specter of militarism that still haunts it, and never let history repeat itself," Mao said. (By Ma Ziqian/China Youth Daily)