There is a common practice in the world that once a war breaks out between two countries, the defeated party must compensate the victor for the losses suffered in the war. This is also the reason why China signed so many unequal treaties during the Qing government.
So here comes the problem. In 1945, Japan announced its unconditional surrender. Japan should undoubtedly be regarded as a defeated country. But what compensation did this defeated country make to China, the most persecuted country?
It is reasonable, although at the end of World War II, the Soviet Union and the United States did cause a big blow to the Japanese army, , but if you say which country contributed the most in the war against Japan, There is no doubt that it must be China. According to statistics, China at that time contained at least 60% of the Japanese forces, and most of the Japanese navy and air force were fighting in China.
Furthermore, China suffered the most losses in this war. The Soviet Union has been fighting against the German army, but it was only a little bit of an intention to send troops under the lure of the United States. In addition to the fact that Pearl Harbor was attacked by Japan, the United States did not suffer any damage. No matter how you look at it, China should account for the bulk of Japan's compensation.
Let’s first take a look at how much China lost during the brutal Anti-Japanese War.
In order to determine how much Japan should compensate China for liquidation, the Nationalist Government specially asked some experts to make a detailed statistics on China’s losses. wrote a "On the War Losses and Japan’s Compensation Issues" report".
The report pointed out that 3,227,926 Chinese soldiers suffered combat casualties (of which 1,328,501 were killed, 1,769,299 were injured, and 130,126 were missing). 422,479 soldiers died due to illness.There were 9134569 civilian casualties (of which 4,397,504 were killed and 4,739,065 were injured). These did not include Taiwan Province, Northeast China, and there were no military and civilian casualties in the Liberated Areas.
According to subsequent statistics, the total number of direct casualties in China's Anti-Japanese War should be more than 41 million, accounting for one-third of the world's total casualties. In addition to the missing and looted Japanese laborers, etc., during the Anti-Japanese War, the total population loss in China should be more than 50 million.
In terms of economy, the Japanese army burned, looted, looted and destroyed China everywhere, causing direct property losses of 31.3 billion U.S. dollars and indirect property losses of 20.4 billion U.S. dollars.
If the damage to China's industry, agriculture, and commerce is included in statistics, it is conservatively estimated that China suffered as much as 100 billion U.S. dollars in direct property losses and 500 billion U.S. dollars in indirect losses during the entire Anti-Japanese War.
China’s cultural destruction is also not small. After Japan invaded China, every place occupied by Japan would lavishly confiscated patriotic books and progressive literature. Chinese history books and geography books have been burned. Among them, the Northeast region suffered the most serious losses. According to the records of the Puppet Ministry of Culture and Education, in the five months from March to July 1932, more than 6.5 million books were burned.
What's more, the Japanese army is still carrying out colonial education in the occupied areas, vainly trying to control the Chinese people ideologically, so that China will subdue the country and extinct species. The sinister intentions can be seen.
Is there no indication that Japan has caused such a huge loss to our country? In fact, in 1945, the heads of the United Kingdom, the United States and the Soviet Union once established a committee that was specifically responsible for negotiating Japan's compensation issues. After the negotiation of the victorious countries, a specific compensation figure was finally given. The total amount of is 54 billion U.S. dollars.This figure is also recognized by Japan.
But with money, how to divide these countries has become a new problem. Every country wants more and no one is willing to give in, so they can only sit down and talk slowly. Fortunately, it is not enough to talk about Japan’s compensation.
The United States proposed to account for 34%, the United Kingdom said that I wanted 25%, the Soviet Union was not far behind and wanted 14%, France wanted 12%, Australia was a bit too much, and even wanted 28%, . Well, these 5 countries add up to 113%. Of course, other countries disagree.
Looking at Japan, this is a good opportunity to fall back on accounts. We are not going to give this money, but you have to discuss how much it is for each country, otherwise it will be difficult for us in Japan. Good guy, this excuse is really hard to refute.
A few countries have to grit their teeth, okay, we will discuss the results before we ask you. did not know that the results of Japan’s indemnity had not been negotiated, and the domestic Chiang Kai-shek could not wait to take action against the Communist Party.
After the outbreak of the Civil War, how could the Nationalist government have the mind to waste time on the issue of Japanese indemnities, so this issue was shelved. Of course, Japan is happy to see this result. This shelved for 6 years, and Japan's compensation issue was mentioned again in 1951.
At this time, Japan has become the younger brother of the United States. The United States provides a lot of support to Japan every year. If now allows Japan to pay compensation to other countries, the United States will not pay for it. So the United States convened a meeting of the victorious nations in San Francisco to discuss a number of issues in Japan, but when they invited China, the United States and the Soviet Union took off again.
It turned out that after the civil war ended, Chiang Kai-shek led the remaining Kuomintang forces to retreat to Taiwan and established the National Government in Taiwan. The United States has always supported Chiang Kai-shek, not to mention that it was just cut off by the Communist Party in North Korea. Of course, it will not give the mainland a good face. Therefore, the United States suggested that the National Government of Taiwan be invited to attend this meeting.
The Soviet Union is the opposite of the United States. It supports the Chinese Communist Party and has repeatedly insisted that the mainland must be invited to attend the meeting. The end result is that both sides step back, and the mainland and Taiwan will not invite it.
In other words, the so-called San Francisco peace meeting with Japan, China did not attend at all. And at the meeting, the United States openly interceded with Japan, hoping that countries would treat Japan with leniency and give up compensation. Countries such as Britain, the Soviet Union, the Netherlands, and Australia have not suffered much. Naturally, there is no need for the United States to renounce Japan's war reparations because of the crime of this incident.
San Francisco meeting Although there are still some small countries in Southeast Asia who insist on Japan's compensation, these small countries, the United States, don't care at all. considers China in the eyes of Japan and the United States to be the top priority. But whether to contact the People’s Republic of China or the National Government of Taiwan has puzzled Japan again.
Let’s get in touch with the People’s Republic of China. To tell the truth, the Japanese government is really insecure. Even though the crimes committed in China are not admitted, can they have no points in their hearts? The Chinese people hate them for their bones and demand that China give up the war reparations, but they really don't have the courage to say it.
Let’s deal with Taiwan. Everyone can see that Taiwan’s strength is far from that of the mainland. At that time, even if Chiang Kai-shek agrees to Japan’s request, the People’s Republic of China will not recognize it.
When Japan was in a dilemma, , the American boss, made a final decision and asked Japan to negotiate with Taiwan.
Since the bosses have spoken, Japan certainly dare not violate it, so it began negotiations with the Taiwan National Government in February 1952, and signed the "China-Japan Peace Treaty" with the Taiwan National Government on April 28, 1952. . The treaty stated that the National Government of Taiwan waived its right to demand Japan's war reparations.
The Philippines once sent a special envoy to visit Chiang Kai-shek, the purpose of which is to unite with Taiwan to seek compensation from Japan. However, Chiang Kai-shek’s reply was " It is the Japanese warlords, not the Japanese people, who are responsible for this war. It is unfair to demand that the Japanese people bear war compensation. The idea of Japanese claims.
According to the author, the reason why Chiang Kai-shek would give up Japan’s indemnity was due to pressure from the United States on the one hand, because at that time Taiwan’s economy was largely dependent on the support of the United States, so I dare not refute it. To save the face of the United States; on the other hand, it also wants to show its favor to Japan by waiving its claims in order to obtain Japan’s international solidarity and economic support.
In addition, Taiwan’s damage is not serious, and Taiwanese don’t hate the Japanese so much, so it doesn’t matter whether the compensation is paid or not.
After the signing of the "China-Japan Peace Treaty", Japan and Taiwan are on the same boat. The relationship between them is getting closer and closer. Japan has indeed cooperated with Taiwan in the economic field. To a certain extent Promoted Taiwan's economic development.
especially during the period when the United States stopped its aid to Taiwan,Japanese loans have helped Taiwan a lot.
It is worth mentioning that the Japanese government still played a little bit cautiously because Taiwan made concessions so quickly to sign a treaty with Japan.
At that time, Taiwan really wanted to sign a treaty with Japan before the mainland, because this would mean that Japan recognized Taiwan’s international status in disguise. Japan has been delaying time in order to get more benefits when signing the contract.
But it doesn't work if you delay it all the time. The U.S. boss is still urging, so the Japanese government has an idea to conduct a public opinion test in Japan to see with whom the Japanese people are more inclined to conclude a treaty.
What is interesting is that the result of voting turned out to be as many people supporting the mainland as supporting Taiwan.
Now that the Japanese government has found a reason, it says that public opinion is unclear and the government is not able to make a decision, so it continues to drag.
On the other hand, the Japanese government has asked someone to spread rumors that the government intends to conclude a treaty with the mainland. At this time, Taiwan is in a hurry and can't let the mainland take the lead, so will quickly make concessions and conclude a treaty with Japan.
Time came to 1972, when the relationship between New China and the Soviet Union was no longer close. US President Nixon saw the hope of the United China to fight against the Soviet Union, so he changed his attitude towards China. also paid a state visit to China in February of the same year, accompanied by his wife.
This is undoubtedly sending a signal to the world that China and the United States are no longer hostile to each other.
Since the bosses of the United States have reconciled with China,As a younger brother, Japan must have something to say. happened to be in July 1972 when Japan was re-elected, and the Prime Minister of Kakuei Tanaka came to power.
Tanaka Kakuei came to China during the Second World War, but he returned to Japan due to illness. He has been following an active policy towards China after he entered politics. can be said that his rise to power has been greatly accelerated The process of normalization of diplomatic relations between China and Japan.
It should be said that Sino-Japanese diplomatic relations can be quickly normalized. China made concessions. At that time, China was being surrounded by the Western world. It was very necessary for Japan as a breakthrough point to highlight the siege and change the situation of China's isolation.
In order to keep up with the United States, the Japanese Tanaka cabinet has also made considerable efforts to restore diplomatic relations with China as soon as possible. After the first cabinet meeting, he put forward that " stepped up diplomatic efforts to normalize diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China ".
To achieve this goal, Tanaka also pointed out that the Japanese government should fully understand the three principles of normalization of Sino-Japanese diplomatic relations that China has always advocated:
"The government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing China ; Taiwan is an inalienable part of the territory of the People’s Republic of China; the Japan-Taiwan treaty signed by the Japanese government and Taiwan in 1952 is illegal and invalid."
I have concerns, , because once the Japan-Taiwan Treaty is recognized as invalid, then the National Government’s commitment to give up its power of compensation becomes a dead letter.
So before his official visit to China, Kakuei Tanaka dispatched Komei Party Chairman Yoshikatsu Takeiri to Beijing to test China's bottom line. At that time, it was Premier Zhou Enlai who was in charge of receiving Takeuchi Yoshikatsu. As wise as Premier Zhou, he knew what the Japanese government was worried about, but Chairman Mao Zedong had already given instructions on this before.
During the meeting, Zhou Enlai put forward the eight articles and three oral tacit agreements approved by Mao Zedong to be included in the Sino-Japanese Joint Declaration, and asked Takeru to pass on to Tanaka. Zhou Enlai stated that , for the sake of the friendship between the people of China and Japan, China decided to abandon its claim for war compensation against Japan.
However, on the Taiwan issue, Zhou Enlai said that the Chinese government will never give in. . The Japanese government must withdraw its "Embassy" and "Consulate" in Taiwan and make Taiwan an "Embassy" if it wants to restore diplomatic relations with China. "And the "Consulate" withdrew from Japan.
The Japanese government’s most worried problem has been solved, and Tanaka Kakuei is now at ease. On August 15, 1972, he met with Sun Pinghua and Xiao Xiangqian, heads of the Shanghai Ballet of the performing in Japan, and accepted the invitation to visit China.
But the Japanese politics at the time was not harmonious. Tanaka's pro-China behavior was opposed by a group of extremists , and even his life was greatly threatened.
It is rare for Kakuei Tanaka to not bring his own daughter with him on this trip. In fact, he felt that these extremists were likely to take risks and assassinate him on the road. It can be said that Prime Minister Tanaka's unhesitating decision to visit China requires great courage.
Fortunately, what Prime Minister Tanaka was worried about did not happen.On September 25, 1972, Prime Minister Tanaka's special plane landed safely in Beijing, thus taking an important step in the normalization of diplomatic relations between China and Japan.
Immediately after the two countries negotiated on the specific content of the Sino-Japanese Joint Declaration, although Japan had a lot of criticism on the abolition of the Japan-Taiwan Treaty, it insisted that there is no need for the "both parties involved in the treaty" "The state of war has ended", "The Japanese side has waived all rights to Taiwan" and "The Taiwan authorities have announced that they have waived war compensation" and other contents are repeated in the joint statement.
However, China, which has made concessions on this issue, is extremely tough. China proposes to take care of the difficulties of the Japanese government on the basis of the three principles of normalization of diplomatic relations between China and Japan. "Japan should also take care of our position." In the end, Japan had to make concessions and admit that the Japan-Taiwan contract was invalid.
On September 29, 1972, in the East Hall of the Great Hall of the People, the signing ceremony of the "Joint Statement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of Japan" was officially held, marking the normalization of Sino-Japanese relations.
Two countries that have been hostile for decades finally usher in peace.
Speaking of this, some people may ask, shouldn’t Japan be compensated for such a serious loss to China? Besides, isn’t it a matter of course for the defeated country to pay for it? China didn't pay less at the beginning, so how come to Japan to get rid of it?
Premier Zhou Enlai once also talked about this issue. He said that Chairman Mao Zedong decided to give up Japan’s indemnity. The reason for doing so is first because China has suffered from territorial cession of indemnity, so this pain should not be added to the Japanese people. After all It was a small group of militarists in Japan who started the war, and they had nothing to do with ordinary people.They should not be held responsible.
Secondly, Japan did not have so much money at the time. 's compensation to Southeast Asian countries was mostly replaced by materials. These materials are not new yet. Japan dismantles domestic machinery and railways and refurbishes them as new transactions. Instead of asking for these useless things, it's better to give up, and you can get a good popularity.
And everything later proved how wise the decision made by Chairman Mao at that time was. First of all, Japan doesn't have to lose money, so it is naturally very happy that Japan has been very friendly to China for a long time. China temporarily lost one opponent on the way forward, buying time for China's development.
Secondly, it was the United States that pleaded with Japan at the time. At that time, China's strength was not qualified to break the wrist with the United States, and it was compelling to take the initiative to make concessions. China's generosity has been highly praised by the United States. During this honeymoon period between China and the United States, China did receive a lot of assistance from the United States.
In the end, this move by China fully demonstrated the atmosphere of a big country and shocked the attention of many Western countries. In their perception, after World War II, China's industry was severely damaged and the economy basically collapsed. Japan's compensation was just a relief for China.
But China didn't want it. Instead, it survived its hard work and achieved brilliant achievements that shocked the world. This made other countries in the world recognize China again, and made them realize that China is a respectable country.
Yang Yang Hua Xia, there is no preoccupation here,No matter which country encounters difficulties, China will extend a helping hand without hesitation. China has always stood firm in the world as a big country with generosity, perseverance, responsibility, and peace-loving.
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