Shanghai Jiao Tong University Prof. Zhai Xin Gives Academic Lecture at SFL

On March 19^th, Prof. Zhai Xin from Shanghai Jiao Tong University was invited to deliver a lecture titled “The Politics and Policy Behind the Release of Japanese Class B and C War Criminals” in Room 2307 of No. 2 Jingjiang Building. The lecture was organized by Su Zhenjun, head of Japanese Department at School of Foreign Languages, and was attended by over 80 faculty members and students from the School of Foreign Languages.

Prof. Zhai Xin, through detailed archival materials, introduced the politics and policies behind the release of Japanese Class B and C war criminals from various aspects, including the post-war Allied trials against Japan, the formation of Japan's policy for releasing these war criminals, the political trends during this policy's process, and the diplomatic activities involved. He reached the following conclusions: First, Japan's efforts to promote the release of war criminals not only spared thousands from punishment but also missed a historical opportunity for profound reflection on its aggressive wars. Second, Japan's operations to release war criminals were not merely about defending national interests from Allied punishment but took advantage of policy differences among the Allies during the Cold War regarding the handling of Japan and the resolution of reconciliation issues. Japan attempted to legitimize its national stance on waging war, the essence of which was to “defend war crimes”, thereby ultimately “denying historical facts”. This official stance of avoiding historical responsibility and undermining the justice of the trials undoubtedly became the source of various later trial denial theories. Third, the Allied countries, including the United States, in dealing with the issue of Japanese war criminals, made concessions or compromises in pursuit of their own interests, ultimately laying historical obstacles to genuine reconciliation between East Asian countries and Japan. This also became the root of Japan's “ongoing unstable relations with Asian countries”. Prof. Zhai Xin's cutting-edge research, utilizing new materials and perspectives, provides new angles and thinking for the development of our institute's national and regional studies.