Eight decades after the International Military Tribunal for the Far East commenced, the fiery rhetoric of China’s legal team continues to serve as a cornerstone of the nation’s historical identity. In May 1946, amidst the ruins of post-war Tokyo, Chinese prosecutor Xiang Zhejun stood before the tribunal to challenge the semantic evasions of Japanese defense teams. When the defense attempted to reclassify the brutal invasion of Manchuria as a mere 'incident' rather than an act of aggression, Xiang famously retorted: 'If that was not war, then what is?'
This confrontation was more than a courtroom drama; it represented China's first significant attempt to seek international legal redress after the 'Century of Humiliation.' The Chinese delegation, led by Judge Mei Ju-ao and Prosecutor Xiang, faced the daunting task of proving systemic war crimes while the defeated Japanese administration had already destroyed vast quantities of incriminating evidence. Their success in securing convictions for key figures like Iwane Matsui and Hideki Tojo became a symbol of national vindication that remains potent in contemporary Chinese discourse.
In modern Beijing, these historical episodes are not treated as static artifacts but as living proof of the 'post-war international order' that China feels Japan frequently undermines. By highlighting the eloquence and resolve of its 1940s jurists, the Chinese government reinforces a narrative of moral authority in regional geopolitics. This commemorative focus often intensifies during periods of diplomatic friction with Tokyo, particularly regarding territorial disputes or visits to the Yasukuni Shrine.
Ultimately, the legacy of the Tokyo Trials serves as a legalistic bedrock for China’s contemporary foreign policy. It frames Japan not just as a neighbor, but as a party whose rehabilitation remains conditional upon its acknowledgment of the crimes detailed by Xiang and his colleagues. As the 80th anniversary of these proceedings approaches, the memory of this legal crusade continues to shape the psychological landscape of East Asian relations.