During World War II, an infamous Japanese unit known as Unit 731 conducted some of the most horrifying war crimes on Chinese soil. Operating under the guise of “disease prevention” and “water purification,” this secret unit was responsible for unspeakable biological and chemical warfare experiments that left thousands of Chinese people dead, mutilated, or infected.
Unit 731 was a covert research and development department of the Japanese army, located in the northeast of the Chinese mainland. Led by General Shiro Ishii, it carried out lethal human experimentation on a massive scale. Prisoners, including men, women, and children, were subjected to extreme cruelty without consent.
Experiments ranged from vivisections without anesthesia to testing the effects of frostbite and diseases like plague, cholera, and anthrax. These acts were blatant violations of human rights and have left a lasting scar on history.
CGTN host Mike Walter recently visited an archive preserving the harrowing evidence of these atrocities. Each yellowed page and preserved artifact tells a story of pain and resilience, serving as a stark reminder of the depths of human cruelty.
Reflecting on this dark chapter, it’s crucial for younger generations to learn about these events to ensure that such horrors are never repeated. Acknowledging and understanding the past is a step toward a more humane future.
