New evidence reveals atrocities of Japanese invaders in forced recruitment and enslavement of Chinese laborers

新证据揭露日本侵略者强征与奴役中国劳工的暴行

Picture of the new evidence revealed by Heilongjiang Provincial Archives Photo: China Central TelevisionHeilongjiang Provincial Archives on Thursday released to the public for the first time a special collection of 62 archival documents on the "forced recruitment and enslavement of Chinese laborers by the Japanese army of aggression," China Central Television (CCTV) reported.

据中央电视台报道，中央电视台和黑龙江省档案馆于周四首次公开一批共62份关于“日本侵略军强征和奴役中国劳工”的专题档案文献。

These valuable records reveal in depth the "labor control" policies implemented by Japanese imperialism during its invasion of China, exposing the planned and organized plunder and enslavement of Chinese laborers. The original documents provide irrefutable evidence of the war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by Japanese militarism, according to CCTV.

这些珍贵档案深刻揭示了日本帝国主义侵华期间推行的“劳工统制”政策，暴露出其有计划、有组织地掠夺和奴役中国劳工的罪行。中央电视台指出来，这些原始档案为日本军国主义犯下的战争罪和反人类罪提供了铁证。

The archives released this time were formed during the period of Japanese occupation. They cover a wide range of topics, including labor utilization and control policies, the planning and implementation of labor conscription, as well as the inhumane treatment of laborers and their resistance. The documents shed light on the historical fact of forced labor conscription carried out by Japanese imperialism during its 14-year colonial rule in Northeast China following the September 18 Incident.

本次公布的档案形成于日占时期。档案内容涵盖劳工利用与控制政策、强征劳工的计划和实施，对劳工的非人待遇及其反抗等多方面。档案揭示了九一八事变后，日本帝国主义在中国东北进行长达14年殖民统治期间实施强制劳动征用的历史事实。

To sustain its war machine and plunder resources, the Japanese army, under the pretext of "labor supply," resorted to administrative coercion and violent means to conscript large numbers of Chinese laborers, who were forced into grueling work such as building roads, mining, and constructing military facilities, suffering systematic and institutionalized exploitation and oppression.

为了维持其战争机器的运转和资源掠夺，日军以“劳动力供应”为名，通过行政强制和暴力手段大规模征用中国劳工，迫使其从事修路、采矿、修建军事设施建设等苦役，遭受系统性、制度性的剥削和压迫。

Of particular note are the original files on the "supply" of laborers by the Japanese Army's Unit 731 in Northeast China and the forced conscription of prisoners of war for the construction of military fortifications. These first-hand records provide concrete evidence of the Japanese invaders' colonial rule, military expansion and economic plunder in Northeast China.

尤为值得注意的是关于日本关东军731部队在东北“提供”劳工和强征战俘修建军事工事的原始档案。这些一手记录为日本侵略者在中国东北实行殖民统治、进行军事扩张和经济掠夺提供了实证。

The archives show that Japan sought to "legitimize" forced labor by promulgating the so-called Ordinance on the Requisition of Military Supplies through the puppet state of "Manchukuo." The ordinance explicitly stipulated that the Japanese army held the supreme power of requisition and authorized suppression against those who resisted.

档案显示，日本通过其傀儡政权“伪满洲国”颁布所谓的《军需品征用令》，歧途将强制劳动“合法化”。该法令明确规定日军享有最高征用权，并授权对反抗者进行镇压。

The conscripted laborers were subjected to inhumane treatment and extremely harsh living conditions. Archival records show that they suffered from acute food shortages, lacked basic clothing to keep out the cold, and were forced to engage in intensive labor. Many laborers attempted to escape, but the Japanese army and the puppet regime carried out crackdowns through arrests, collective punishment and even brutal killings, completely stripping them of personal freedom and basic dignity, according to CCTV.

被强征劳工遭受了非人的待遇，其生活条件也极其恶劣。档案记载显示，他们面临食物严重短缺，缺乏基本御寒衣物，并被迫从事高强度劳动。据中央电视台报道，许多劳工试图逃跑，但日军和傀儡政权通过逮捕、连坐甚至残忍杀害等手段进行镇压，完全剥夺了其人身自由和基本尊严。

Nie Boxin, head of the archival compilation department of the Heilongjiang Provincial Archives, said the newly released documents are not only important materials for historical research, but also serve as a strong rebuttal to Japanese right-wing forces who deny aggression and whitewash crimes.

黑龙江省档案馆档案编研处处长聂博馨表示，新公布的档案既是历史研究的重要资料，也是对否认侵略、美化罪行的日本右翼势力的有力回击。

The release aims to keep alive the memory of suffering, uphold human justice, and remind the world to cherish peace and oppose war. These archives stand as historical evidence of the crimes committed by Japanese militarism and provide a lasting warning for humanity's pursuit of peace and development, said Nie.

此次档案发布旨在铭记苦难、捍卫自己人类正义，警示世人珍爱和平、反对战争。聂博馨强调，这些档案是日本军国主义所犯罪行的历史见证，也为人类追求和平与发展提供了永恒警示。

Global Times

《环球时报 》