Remembering History, Safeguarding Peace

Summary

On 8 June 2026, Chinese Ambassador to New Zealand Wang Xiaolong published an article commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Tokyo Trials. The article recalls the opening of the International Military Tribunal for the Far East in Tokyo on 3 May 1946, with judges and prosecutors from 11 countries including China and New Zealand, which tried Japanese Class-A war criminals and laid the legal foundation for the post-war international order. New Zealand contributed Judge Northcroft and Associate Prosecutor Quilliam, who donated 378 volumes of trial documents to the University of Canterbury, though they have not been digitised due to sensitive content.

Northcroft's report noted that Japanese forces committed war crimes in all occupied territories and refuted Japan's defence of 'self-defence under duress'; Quilliam revealed that Japan deliberately destroyed key documents before surrender, impeding accountability, including for over 300 New Zealand prisoners of war. The article criticises today's Japanese right-wing forces for denying aggression, expanding military power, revising the pacifist constitution, and repeating militarist history, urging vigilance from New Zealand and Pacific Island nations to safeguard peace.

Commentary

For New Zealand small and medium enterprise owners, this article, while focused on history and politics, reveals potential risks and opportunities in China-New Zealand relations. On the risk side, the revival of Japanese militarism may heighten tensions in the Asia-Pacific region, indirectly affecting supply chain stability. If China-Japan relations deteriorate, New Zealand, as a key trading partner of China, may face market volatility—for example, Chinese consumers could turn to New Zealand products (such as dairy and meat) due to anti-Japan sentiment, but this sentiment may not be enduring.

Conversely, the article highlights New Zealand's contribution to the Tokyo Trials, which helps reinforce New Zealand's image as an independent and fair trading partner, especially in the Chinese market. SMEs could leverage this by highlighting New Zealand's peace values in marketing, contrasting with Japanese brands—for instance, emphasising 'pure, peaceful' origin stories in food and tourism. However, direct political statements may be controversial; businesses should remain cautious and avoid over-politicisation.

From a cooperation perspective, China's emphasis on historical education could drive cultural and tourism exchanges; New Zealand could develop historical-themed tourism products (e.g., visits to the University of Canterbury archives) to attract Chinese tourists. Also, monitor China's official stance toward Japan: if China intensifies sanctions against Japan, it could benefit New Zealand as a substitute supplier, but companies must assess if their supply chains are flexible enough. Overall, SMEs should keep an eye on regional geopolitical trends but avoid over-interpretation and maintain pragmatic business decisions.

Keywords: Tokyo Trial, Japanese militarism, Peace Constitution, historical memory, China-New Zealand relations, New Zealand, Wang Xiaolong, war crimes, University of Canterbury

Source: Chinese Embassy in New Zealand – Bilateral Relations