Chinese film on Japan's germ warfare reflects historical truths with details

Zhao Linshan, director of "Evil Unbound," a Chinese-produced film depicting the atrocities committed by the notorious Japanese germ warfare Unit 731 during World War II, explained the creative choices behind the film, revealing how historical records substantiated his portrayal of the atrocities committed by the Japanese aggressors.

Unit 731, a top-secret biological and chemical warfare research base in Harbin, the capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, served as the nerve center for Japanese biological warfare in China and Southeast Asia during WWII.

Historical records indicate that from 1940 to 1945, Unit 731 used at least 3,000 people in human experiments, and more than 300,000 people in China were killed by Japan's biological weapons.

Through vivid storytelling and historical fidelity, the film underscores the brutality of human experiments carried out under the guise of war.

One striking line in the film - "you are free" - initially seems to convey liberation, yet it conceals the cruel scheme of Unit 731.

"Food was precious, and freedom came at the price of health. This line from the film was inspired by historical evidence we uncovered in the documents," said Zhao, noting that the line reflects how the so-called freedom was twisted into a tool of human experiments.

Audiences also raised questions about why the prison environment and food depicted in the film appeared relatively well-kept.

Zhao addressed these concerns by pointing to the darker truth behind such appearances.

"For instance, the prisoners had rice, flour, braised pork, and were given an apple and egg each day. It looked like preferential treatment, but in reality, it was to maintain a certain physical standard. These people were not ordinary prisoners - they were to become living subjects for experiments. Some may also question why the so-called prison appeared clean, with tiled walls, tatami mats, and even flush toilets which are rare in those days. Because this was not simply a prison. It was a laboratory, a holding place for experimental subjects, and therefore it demanded higher standards," he said.

Meanwhile, Zhao emphasized the importance of memory and hope, ending on a line from the film that connects the darkness of history with the light of peace.

"At the end of the film, I used one of the most classic lines from the Exhibition Hall of Evidence of Crimes Committed by Unit 731 of the Japanese Imperial Army - 'Keep walking. There is light at the exit, there is the warmth of human life, and there is peace and prosperity for the nation.' Though the story is suffocating and heavy, when we open the doors of the cinema, we are still in a world of happiness," said the director.

Chinese film on Japan's germ warfare reflects historical truths with details

A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.

Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.

In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.

"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.

Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.

In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.

"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.

By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.

After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.

"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.

Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.

As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.

Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media