More proof of Japan's aggression discovered
(China Daily)
Updated: 2005-04-18 05:47

GUANGZHOU: Items left over from Japan's invasion and occupation of China during the War of Resistance against Japan have been discovered recently in the capital of Guangdong Province, adding to the evidence China is using to condemn an official Japanese history textbook.

According to the municipal cultural bureau, five hangars built by invading Japanese troops during the war were found in Guangzhou during the city's ongoing survey of historical sites and relics which has lasted more than one year.

One of the hangars is located in Tianhe District, said an expert, surnamed Chen, of the bureau. Built with bricks and cement, it was originally some 8 metres high, 30 metres long and around 2 metres deep. Time has blurred the red characters on the facade of the structure.

The bureau has filed a request with the municipal government for measures to be taken to preserve the five hangars and to use them as "education bases for cultivating patriotism," Chen said.

Two blockhouses left by Japanese troops have also been found in Tianhe District, on the top of a hill overlooking Tianhe Airport, said Chen.

Two more blockhouses constructed of reinforced concrete were discovered at Huangge Town of Panyu District. A 100-metre trench with gunports connected the two structures.

Chen said there were about a dozen similar structures built or used by the invading Japanese troops in Guangzhou, and they were found with the help of local war survivors.

A village was found to have been pillaged by Japanese troops in Fuhe Town. Old villagers recalled that on the night of January 30, 1940, Japanese soldiers ravaged Gangwayao Village, and one was killed by villagers. The next day, the soldiers slaughtered 128 villagers. Only three survived the atrocity.

New discoveries also included the sites of frontline brothels for comfort women. Most of the structures have been rebuilt, according to Chen.

Japan's official adoption of a new edition of a history textbook, which critics say "whitewashes" Japan's past history of aggression, stirred fury across China last week.

The Chinese Government expressed strong indignation at the approval of the right-wing textbook which "confounds black and white," said Vice-Foreign Minister Qiao Zonghuai.

Like Guangzhou, many places across China continue to turn up new evidence to justify Chinese people's strong disapproval of the new textbook.

(China Daily 04/18/2005 page2)

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