In 1945, as the broadcast of the Japanese emperor announcing his unconditional surrender echoed in the air, the Chinese nation finally ushered in the dawn after eight years of bloody struggle. However, as the whole country celebrated, a daunting task lay ahead: a large number of Japanese prisoners of war, as many as 3.2 million, more than the population of some provinces.
Some people have suggested that they should be dealt with directly on the grounds of a quick solution, but this is contrary to China's concept of peace. China has opted for a more humane approach: providing adequate supplies and clothing, distributing living allowances, and arranging for repatriation.
But before that, China** clarified a condition for repatriation: prisoners of war are not allowed to carry these three items before leaving. What are the three forbidden things? Before the answer was revealed, a deep humane concern was revealed.
On August 15, 1945, the bells of World War II victory echoed across the country, but the question of the remaining 3.2 million Japanese prisoners of war, including 1.25 million soldiers and 1.9 million expatriates, was a thorny one.
It was suggested that severe punishment should be taken seriously, or that the Soviet model of servitude should be emulated. However, looking back at history, the Japanese were inhumane in the war, ignored the basic rights of Chinese prisoners of war, and regarded the Chinese as victims of brutal training and even targets of live assassination.
They turned a blind eye to the atrocities committed by civilians, such as live experiments and killing contests, and the tragedy of Nanjing is still fresh in the memory of the Chinese people, painful and painful, like a nightmare that can never be erased.
In the face of Japanese prisoners of war, the Chinese were full of desire for revenge and longed for justice for their sacrificed compatriots. However, guided by reason and the idea of peace, China did not punish too harshly, stemming from the provisions of the Potsdam Proclamation of 1945, which promised to allow Japanese soldiers to return home and rebuild their lives after the war.
The tolerance of Chinese culture has led people to reflect on the question of how if we also counter violence with violence, wouldn't we be complicit in the enemy? Therefore, China chose to repay their grievances with virtue and set up concentration camps to properly resettle them and ensure their basic livelihood.
We have given these"Unarmed officers and soldiers"living conditions, and to give equal remuneration for work as Kuomintang soldiers, to deal with the complex problems of the post-war period in a humanitarian way.
In the eyes of Japanese children, China's prisoner of war camps are not the harsh places they imagined, but a warm and decent haven. Despite the small but spotless accommodation, there are plenty of outdoor areas and living conditions that are on par with, if not better, than the local population.
China did its best to provide them with a rich meal, which was a heavenly treatment compared to the hardships of the Japanese army at that time, with no meat and no vegetables, only salty sorghum rice and wild vegetables.
According to statistics, the daily food and beverage expenses of each prisoner of war were as high as 100 yuan, which was nearly 3,000 yuan a month, which was enough to cover the expenses of ordinary families for several months at that time.
In that barren period, the care of prisoners of war in China was generous, and they were never materially disadvantaged. In order to protect the population from emotional influences, special personnel were arranged to ensure the safety of prisoners of war.
This kind of great love and tolerance shows the noble sentiment of the Chinese people who transcend hatred.
For the sake of Japan's secrets, the lieutenant invited Japanese prisoners of war to share meals with generosity, advocating reconciliation and unity between countries. It is surprising that China, which has been oppressed for a long time, has treated them in such a humane way, and although the shadow of aggression still exists in the hearts of some Japanese soldiers, some of them have been moved by China's humanitarian concern and deeply reflected on their actions.
China's leniency towards Japanese prisoners of war was particularly merciful compared to the harshness of the Soviet Union and the United States. You know, those Japanese prisoners of war who were stranded in the Soviet Union or the United States could not even get the right to return home.
The United States has taken prisoners of war and brutalized them, and some have even been turned over as indigenous victims, in an environment that is free from the law and breeds revenge and suffering. Male prisoners of war died in inhumane treatment, female prisoners of war were reduced to reproductive tools, and many committed suicide in the face of torture.
Such a situation further highlights China's noble sentiments towards prisoners of war.
During World War II, the Soviet Union received a large number of Japanese prisoners of war, 600,000 of whom were sent to work in the bitterly cold Siberian plateau. However, these prisoners of war did not receive the humane care they deserved, and in the face of harsh conditions, they lacked basic livelihood support, so they had to rely on themselves and build simple shelters with limited resources to withstand the harsh winter.
Sadly, after the first season, there are nearly 550,000 prisoners of war died of cold and hunger. Female prisoners of war were forced to fall into a miserable situation, as in the case of "**
Under international pressure, the Soviet Union eventually repatriated them, but the number of prisoners of war had fallen sharply by then. Therefore, China's role as a model of humanitarianism is particularly prominent.
Faced with a grim post-war situation, China was devastated by war and resources were strained, with 3.2 million Japanese troops stranded, lurking the risk of resuming the conflict at any time. The international community, such as the United States, strongly appealed to China to honor the Potsdam Proclamation and repatriate Japanese prisoners of war.
Under both internal and external pressure, China** has launched an orderly repatriation plan. However, the lack of air and sea power made it difficult to achieve it on its own, so it reached out to the United States.
On November 20, 1945, the commander-in-chief of the U.S. forces in the Chinese theater of operations asked the U.S. headquarters for help, and the United States actively responded to China's request and provided substantial support.
When everything was ready, a large-scale deportation operation officially began.
December 3, Japan"Famous Pills"arrived at the port of Shanghai, ready to pick up the stranded Japanese nationals. In the early morning of that day, more than 2,000 Japanese marched slowly and orderly at the Qiujiang Wharf (originally a messy procession).
Due to the large number of evacuees and the complexity of the situation, China** has strict restrictions on items on board, three of which are strictly prohibited from being taken out of the country: first, contraband, such as firearms, knives and harmful chemicals, which may endanger the safety of passengers.
Although China is the victor, there are still some Japanese who adhere to the concept of militarism, believing that there are only two options for soldiers: victory or death. The evacuation crowd was a mix of Japanese and Japanese soldiers, and if they caused chaos during the evacuation, it could lead to serious accidents and affect the international attitude towards China.
Therefore, it is forbidden to bring these items on board as ironclad.
China adheres to its principles and enforces iron rules for precious goods such as gold and silver treasures and currency (including cigarettes). The carry-on allowance for Japanese military personnel is strict, with a limit of 500 yen for officers, 200 yen for soldiers, and 1,000 yen for expatriates.
The original 30kg baggage limit was later adjusted to the personal carrying limit, and it was forbidden to hire others to carry luggage. Despite tight customs controls, there are still attempts to exploit loopholes, such as the bribery of a Japanese consulate to get on board a ship quickly and carry a large amount of valuable jewelry.
However, this kind of illegal behavior cannot escape the eyes of the law, ** decisive intervention, the violator was expelled from the ship, the property was confiscated, and the **customs** was also severely punished by the military court, which fully reflects China's uncompromising management of contraband.
On Chinese soil, the last hurdle of any contraband search is those ancient books and precious materials that carry profound cultural value, as well as military secrets involving ***, especially those engraved with Chinese imprints.
They are not only a witness to history, but also a national treasure in China. Although we have lost in the face of the aggression of the great powers of the past, China today cannot tolerate the loss of these legacies again.
Military secrets are vital to the survival of a country, and their value is immeasurable. Therefore, as long as they can prove their innocence, they will not only provide enough money and rations to return home, but also give them new clothes to ensure that they return with dignity.
In just over a year, China successfully repatriated all Japanese prisoners of war. Okubo Kawazo, the Japanese ** responsible for the evacuation of foreigners, witnessed a miracle: the people from Nanyang, South Korea, or the Soviet-occupied Northeast returned almost destitute; However, compatriots who have returned from China are able to continue their livelihood with basic necessities.
This is a manifestation of China's adherence to the spirit of humanity and its ardent desire for peace.