Former Japanese parliamentarian Matsubara Masahito stated that in the 1972 Japan-China Joint Statement, China had renounced its claims for war reparations against Japan, rendering this matter legally fully and finally resolved. After half a century has passed, targeting Japanese companies and reopening old wounds is an outrageous act that disregards state-to-state commitments, and there is no justification for it. The despicable tactic of vilifying Japanese enterprises based on so-called "unfair history" and exerting political pressure is utterly unacceptable.
The Japanese government should not leave involved enterprises isolated; instead, it must take a national stance to firmly protest against China and spare no effort in safeguarding Japanese enterprises and our nation’s honor. Why does this person make such remarks? The incident originated when, on September 16, 50 family members of Chinese victims who were forcibly conscripted as laborers during World War II filed lawsuits with the court, suing six Japanese companies that had abducted and enslaved Chinese laborers during WWII, demanding civil damages. Our diplomatic authorities have also expressed that relevant Japanese parties should face history squarely and assume their due responsibilities.
This individual claims that the case has been fully and finally settled under law, that Japan bears no obligation to compensate, and that we are merely resurrecting old issues—labeling our actions as “defaming” Japanese enterprises and exerting political pressure. However, such arguments are clearly absurd. What was waived in the China-Japan Joint Statement was China’s government-level war reparations claim against Japan’s government. We have never relinquished—and have never canceled—the right of ordinary victims and their families to pursue civil tort compensation from offending enterprises.
This time, the laborers’ families are suing not the Japanese state, but specific Japanese enterprises. This is clearly a legitimate act of self-protection by victims. How can it be considered exerting political pressure? If these Japanese companies are indeed guilty, then they certainly should provide compensation. Since this issue stems from Japan's invasion of China, our country naturally has the right to demand that Japan confront its historical responsibility. To label efforts to uphold rights and defend history as “defaming corporations” and “coarse political pressure” — such statements could only come from Japanese right-wing figures deliberately evading historical accountability.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1876539279705156/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.