Tourists mourn for Nanjing Massacre victims, reflect on history

As this year marks the 80th anniversary of the Tokyo Trials, tourists from across China are coming to the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders to pay tribute, and shared their reflection of the history.

From May 3, 1946, to Nov. 12, 1948, the International Military Tribunal for the Far East was held in Tokyo by 11 countries, including the United States, China, the UK and the Soviet Union, to try Japan's Class-A war criminals after World War II.

Among the many atrocities of Japan's invasion of China, the most infamous was the 1937 Nanjing Massacre, in which Japanese forces killed over 300,000 Chinese civilians and unarmed soldiers in six weeks.

Nearly a century later, tourists from across China are coming to the memorial hall built for the victims, in east China's Jiangsu Province. They said the historical materials and photographs are irrefutable evidence of the history of aggression.

"I think the facts of history are right there for all to see. If the Japanese side refuses to acknowledge them, maybe it's because they realize their own cruelty was too inhumane. They don’t want to admit it - but the facts are right here. They cannot be changed," said Wang Jiahe, a tourist from central China's Henan Province.

People said by remembering the Tokyo Trials, more people around the world will better learn about the history, and cherish the hard-won peace today.

"The Tokyo Trials mainly tried war criminals like Matsui Iwane. I need to keep these events in mind - to remember this part of history. For every Chinese person, history must not be distorted," said Yuan Canxin, a tourist from south China's Hainan Province.

"Seeing is believing. Seeing those photos myself reminds me of the hardships my compatriots endured in the past. It makes me realize that today's peace has been hard-won. I hope our country will grow even stronger," said a tourist, burst in tears. "We must remember our past - and how we survived such hardship - so we know what kind of people we want to be, how we will build, continue to develop, and better protect our country," said Deng Wangsuhang, a local resident in Nanjing.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Sunday on social media that it had been informed by the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant that a drone had targeted the plant's External Radiation Control Laboratory earlier in the day.

No injuries were reported, and it remains unclear whether the facility, located outside the plant's perimeter, sustained any damage, the agency said. The IAEA team stationed at the site has requested access to the laboratory to assess the situation.

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi reiterated that any attacks in the vicinity of nuclear facilities could pose risks to nuclear safety.

The plant, one of Europe's largest nuclear facilities, has been under Russian control since March 2022.