Tokyo Trials at 80: Historical warning never fades

Editor's note: Xin Ping is a Beijing-based international affairs commentator. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

Eighty years ago, in the aftermath of the devastating war, the International Military Tribunal for the Far East convened in Tokyo to try the leading perpetrators of Japanese aggression. This historic moment put humanity's conscience and international justice to the ultimate test.

With rigorous procedures and overwhelming evidence, the landmark trials laid bare the horrors of Japanese militarism, established the crime of aggression and held war criminals to account, including the notorious Hideki Tojo. Even more important is its underlying message that peace and security remain humanity's determined pursuit.

Yet, 80 years on, we still cannot take peace for granted, as regional conflicts flare up one after another and neo-militarism rears its ugly head. Drawing lessons from history to guide our way forward has never been more urgent. This sentiment was widely echoed by international experts and scholars from China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Russia, Germany and other countries, who gathered in Shanghai from May 28 to 29 for the "International Symposium Commemorating the 80th Anniversary of the Commencement of the Tokyo Trials" – an event jointly hosted by Shanghai Jiao Tong University and the Memorial Hall for the Victims of the Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders.

Here are some of their insights on the historic trials that merit particular attention:

A cornerstone of the post-war international order

The Tokyo Trials were never meant to be another "victors' declaration" like the Treaty of Versailles. They were a major milestone in the development of international rule of law, which, together with the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation, established the legal and institutional foundation of the post-war international order.

As Qi Dahai, director-general of the Department of Treaty and Law of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated at the symposium, the institutional arrangements created by the Tokyo Trials not only set a prerequisite for Japan's reintegration into the international community, but also served as restraints on militarist forces, laying a solid foundation for peace in Asia and the post-war international order.

Why were the trials so pivotal? Because they were the first judicial proceedings to bring charges of "crimes against peace" and "crimes against humanity." In doing so, they declared three timeless principles: Sovereignty is not a shield for atrocities; aggression is not a legitimate right of any state; and no leader is immune from criminal accountability.

Consequently, the trials established the international legal doctrine that aggression constitutes a crime – a sword of Damocles that has hung over Japan's right-wing forces ever since. Any attempt to subvert the Peace Constitution or revive militarism in Japan will be held accountable under the post-war international order that the Tokyo Trials helped to shape.

The rule of law and the principle of peace established by the Tokyo Trials, therefore, have been a legal bedrock for keeping Japan's right-wing factions in check, preventing the resurgence of militarism and anchoring stability across the Asia-Pacific region.

A justice compromised by Cold War politics

But justice did not have an easy path.

The Nuremberg Trial carried out judicial reckoning at both domestic and international levels: It declared the Nazi Party a criminal organization. It prompted German society to engage in a spontaneous, collective soul-searching about the Nazi crimes – earning Germany the trust of the international community.

The Tokyo Trials, in contrast, were what some have called a "half-baked revolution." As the Iron Curtain descended, US policy toward Japan shifted from suppression to support: The emperor's war responsibility was waived, a significant number of war criminals, including Nobusuke Kishi, were allowed to return to politics, the chain of culpability for the war was artificially cut off, and the remnants of Japanese militarism were never fully eradicated. As a result, justice was sacrificed to political compromise, unresolved issues were left to fester and self-reflection on the war crimes was reduced to a mere facade.

A wake-up call against neo-militarism

As we mark the 80th anniversary of the Tokyo Trials, they once again sound the alarm against Japanese militarism. A sober look at Japan's recent behaviors reveals an unnerving truth: Right-wing forces are steering Japan toward neo-militarism under the pretext of "normalizing the nation."

They have revised the interpretation of the Peace Constitution to lift the ban on the right of collective self-defense, amended the "Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology" to remove restrictions on arms exports and placed the revision of the "Three Security Documents" high on the agenda. They have pushed the defense budget to record highs and are overtly developing offensive weapons. To cloak these actions in legitimacy, they have fabricated so-called external threats from neighboring countries and have made a big fuss about them.

The words and deeds of Japanese politicians today bear a striking resemblance to the collective frenzy that preceded Japan's aggression in the last century. The gambler's mentality of today's right-wing forces is no different from that of those who cried "Tora, Tora, Tora" (the Japanese code phrase for "surprise attack achieved") over Pearl Harbor. The international community must fully recognize that the evil logic of Japan's right-wing forces has never changed and the specter of militarism never dissolves.

If good people stand idly by, indulging the devil and condoning the threat it poses, history may repeat itself: Peace may be overturned and justice lost forever. The legacy of the Tokyo Trials is not merely a written verdict. It is a warning that will never fade.

The Chinese nation is a peace-loving nation committed to building a harmonious world. We look back at history in order to gain insight for the future. The Shanghai symposium could not have come at a more opportune time. Amid a complex and volatile international landscape, it represents a commendable effort to carry on the legacy of the Tokyo Trials, to rally the progressive forces around a shared commitment to peace and stability and to explore a pathway toward a brighter future for humanity.

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