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Discuss The Effects Of Unit 731 On Japan Relations

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To what extent did Unit 731 affect Japan’s regional relations

In every modern war, there exist atrocities, including those committed by the countries’ medical military personnel. Defined by the expansion of two nations across their neighbouring borders, the 1930s and 40s was illustrated by the pursuit of furthering nationalistic ideologies, including the instigation of human experiments. The development of bio-chemical weapons and the practice of battlefield surgery techniques (inherent in Unit 731) affected Japan’s 2regional relationships to a significant extent. While it may be contended that the strained diplomatic relations arose from factors other than that of the actions of Unit 731, such as the World War II textbook controversy it was, …show more content…

Subsequent the war, Japan’s lenient treatment at the Tokyo Tribunal and its refusal to acknowledge Unit 731 flawed Japan’s ties. Japan and Germany alone, employed the highly controversial use of involuntary human subjects for biomedical research in order emerge as a major war power. Despite this, both countries have experienced vastly different relationships in the post-war era. Having assimilated relatively easily back into the European realm, Germany differs from Japan, who has not gained the same return into harmonious relations with their neighbours. In the eyes of its neighbours, Japan has not fully apologised for its actions of Unit 731 nor held full culpability for the atrocities committed during the war. This, as a result, affected Japan’s regional relations and marred the inherent distrust both the …show more content…

Although Japanese textbook controversies play a major part in affecting Japan’s regional relations, it was emphasized after the actions of Unit 731 was uncovered. The history of the Japan’s government subsequent to the second Sino-Japanese war in 1937, is marked with centuries of exploitation and the manifestation of racial prejudice. In the past 50 years of Japan, there has been a struggle to shape the story of Japan’s history in World War II11. There are those who have pushed for full disclosure and discussion of Japan’s wartime biomedical experimentation programs. And there are those who have attempted to shield the Japanese public from any discussion, especially in textbooks, of Japan’s activities. These struggles have been aiding to the tendinous relationship of japan and its neighbours. Having been worked through the judiciary system, the Supreme Court in Japan recently ruled in favour for its inclusion in history textbooks, accounts of Japan’s biological and chemical warfare in wartime programs. The texts, however, treat the occupation of Korea and the aggression into China and countries in Southeast Asia similarly, resulting in increased tension between the

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