Principles of Potsdam Proclamation remain relevant 80 years on

Eighty years have passed since the Potsdam Proclamation was issued during the Potsdam Conference at Cecilienhof Palace in Germany, yet its principles remain relevant today.

The Potsdam Proclamation, signed by China, the United States, and the United Kingdom on July 26, 1945, and later endorsed by the Soviet Union, called for Japan’s unconditional surrender to the Allies at the end of World War II.

"First of all, at the beginning, they had chosen Berlin. The destructions were so heavy in the city of Berlin that they did not find a place to hold such a big meeting of a representative of the anti-Hitler coalition. And so they looked a little bit further away and Potsdam is very close to Berlin," said Matthias Simmich, head of the Cecilienhof Palace.

The Cairo Declaration, issued by China, the United States, and the United Kingdom 80 years ago, stipulates clearly that all territories Japan has stolen from China, such as Taiwan, shall be restored to China. Article 8 of the Potsdam Proclamation, jointly published by China, the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union in 1945, stipulates that the terms of the Cairo Declaration shall be carried out. Later, Japan accepted the Potsdam Proclamation and announced unconditional surrender.

The Potsdam Proclamation explicitly stated that all territories Japan had taken from China prior to World War II would be returned to China, Simmich stressed.

"The Cairo Declaration was mentioned in the Potsdam Declaration, it was the point eight of the agreement which dated from 1943. It was mentioned that all the territory they occupied before or during the Second World War should be given back, for example Taiwan to China. and also the Japanese representatives in the instrument of surrender accepted these declarations. So in my opinion, it is a binding thing," he said.

On Sept 2, 1945, Japan signed the instrument of unconditional surrender and pledged to fully implement all provisions of the Potsdam Proclamation.

From the standpoint of international law, Japan’s acceptance of the Potsdam Proclamation renders it legally binding and establishes it as the very foundation of the post-war order in East Asia.

"[The Potsdam Declaration] and the United Nations Charter both clearly state that territories illegally occupied by aggressors must ultimately be returned. I believe this remains the core message conveyed by the Potsdam Declaration: acts of aggression will ultimately be punished," said Eckart Klein, honorary professor at the University of Potsdam.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, as well as the 80th anniversary of the recovery of Taiwan from Japanese occupation.

Principles of Potsdam Proclamation remain relevant 80 years on

The United Nations human rights chief on Saturday called for all parties to return to the negotiating table to solve the differences as the tensions in the Middle East region keep intensifying after the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran on the day.

Volker Turk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, made the appeal in a video address recorded in Switzerland’s Geneva. He stressed that instead of resolving differences, military attacks will only result in destruction and civilian casualties.

"I deplore the military strikes across Iran this morning by Israel and the United States of America, and the subsequent retaliatory strikes by Iran. As always, in any armed conflict, it is civilians who end up paying the ultimate price. Bombs and missiles are not the way to resolve differences but only result in death, destruction, and human misery," he said.

He called on all parties to return to the negotiating table and stressed that negotiation is the only way to resolve differences.

"To avert these terrible consequences for civilians, I call for restraint and implore all parties to see reason, to de-escalate, and for a return to the 'negotiating table' where they had been actively seeking a solution only hours earlier. This is the only way durably to resolve the deep differences between states that exist," Turk said.

He underscored the importance of protecting civilians and warned that those who violate international law will be held accountable.

"I have already warned that failing to do so risks an even wider conflict that will inevitably lead to further senseless civilian deaths and destruction on a potentially unimaginable scale, not just in Iran but across the Middle East region. I remind all parties that international law with respect to armed conflict is very clear: the protection of civilians is paramount. Each and every actor involved needs to ensure compliance with these laws and violations of them must lead to accountability for those responsible," said Turk.

The United States and Israel on Saturday launched coordinated airstrikes against Iran, with the latter responding with a series of attacks on Israel and U.S. targets across the Middle East.

Increasing casualties are reported in Iran and other countries involved in the ongoing flare-up.

Iran's state media confirmed Sunday that its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in a joint U.S.-Israeli attack on Saturday.

The Iranian Red Crescent Society said that the strikes hit at least 24 of Iran's 31 provinces, with 201 deaths and 747 injuries reported so far.

UN calls for returning to negotiating table as U.S., Israel intensify attacks on Iran