Japan's invasion on China 60 years ago retarded China's social
development for half a century, leaving Chinese great pains never
to be forgotten, said a Chinese history researcher in Beijing
Tuesday.??
Dr. Bian Xiuyue, researcher on modern history with the Chinese
Academy of Social Sciences, said Japan's invasion on China during
1931 and 1945 wreaked havoc on the Chinese people, causing great
casualties, economic and cultural losses and more importantly,
"retarded China's social modernization process for as long as 50
years."
From 1937 to 1945 alone, when the Chinese waged the war against
Japanese invasion, the Japanese army killed tens of millions of
Chinese in more than 4,000 slaughters.
"Japanese atrocities happened on almost two thirds of the
Chinese territory and covered most of the 14 years from the time
Japan started the war to its defeat," Bian said.
He said over 250 killing methods were used by Japanese troops on
Chinese, many women and children.
He estimated the war caused the loss of a population of 50
million.
The majority of China, except Tibet and Xinjiang, was directly
under the Japanese scourge and bombarded by Japanese warplanes, he
said.
He said the research showed that the war brought about US$100
billion of direct and US$500 billion of indirect economic losses to
China.
"Of course, losses investigation of the war were not adequate
both in war time and space coverage given limitations under the
warring state," he said. "It is almost impossible to get a precise
answer on the damages and calamities by Japan's invasion."
He stressed that the academic circle should keep on studying the
impact of the war and how it set back China's social progress.
"I can say without any exaggeration that China was hurt most in
the world Anti-Fascist War. No other country like China suffered so
heavy losses and paid so high prices for the war."
"Although China renounced war compensation from Japan, it
doesn't mean the nation will forget the calamities and losses we
suffered. The Chinese will never forget Japanese army's war crimes
and inhuman atrocities."
(Xinhua News Agency July 7, 2005)