China anger at Japanese mustard gas leak

[brian]

Here in Europe we are usually familiar with the Nazi holcaust, and the brutal extermination of around 7 million people, the majority of which were apparently Jewish.

However, what many people in Europe don't realise is that the Japanese occupation of China during World War II unleashed their own and bigger genocide, one that resulted in the deaths of over 10 million Chinese.

There are still a number of factors of tension between the two countries. Here's a more recent reminder, when a Japanese cache of chemical weapons was disovered under a building site in the Chinese province of Heilongjiang:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asi...ic/3175463.stm

China anger over mustard gas

China has summoned the Japanese ambassador to express its anger at the death of a man poisoned by mustard gas left over from World War II.
In a strongly-worded statement, China's Vice Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, demanded that Japan clean up its abandoned chemical weapons.

He said Japan could not shirk its responsibility and China would not tolerate another such death.

The Japanese Government has sent its condolences to the bereaved family and promised to continue its efforts to dispose of the dangerous chemicals.

The man who died, in the north-eastern city of Qiqihar, suffered massive burns after the gas leaked from old barrels unearthed on a building site.

More than 30 people were injured in the accident, which happened earlier this month.

"The chemical weapons that Japan has left over in China has cruelly injured and taken the precious lives of many Chinese people," Mr Wang said.

Even today, 58 years later, this cancer is constantly threatening the safety of Chinese people's lives. It makes the Chinese people furious."

The dead man, Li Guizhen, bought five barrels of the mustard gas on 4 August, which he planned to sell for recycling, Xinhua news agency reported.

While opening one of the barrels he was exposed to an oily liquid later found to be decades-old mustard gas.

He died in a military hospital on Thursday night.

Japan's wartime record in China is a regular source of tension between the two governments.

Large quantities of chemical weapons were left behind by the retreating Japanese army, some of them buried or concealed.

Several cases have already been lodged by Chinese plaintiffs against the Japanese Government, alleging damage or injury because of the weapons.

Lawyers for the plaintiffs say up to 2,000 people have died since the war after coming into contact with the weapons

[Twelve]

Yes...if one ever takes the time to read about what JAPAN did during the World Wars era...woah.

Anyways, the only way to get by all of this is to try and forgive and move on. Deal with the problem without applying old enemies to it. Japan can make a good gesture and help out with the problem.

Meanwhile, I don't agree with trying to dig up all the bad things a country has ever done and then hitting them with it decades later. Things just won't work out that way.

12

[brian]

Certainly true - especially as Europe has certainly moved on from WWII. I wonder if there's a sense of "closure" missing from that period of Chinese history? Hm...