Core Viewpoint - The article reveals the confessions of Sakihara Hideo, a former officer of the Japanese Unit 731, detailing the inhumane experiments and war crimes committed during the Second Sino-Japanese War, particularly focusing on the use of biological warfare and human experimentation [1][4]. Group 1: War Crimes and Human Experimentation - Sakihara Hideo participated in a murder experiment in Andar County, Heilongjiang Province, where four Chinese patriots were subjected to a brutal bombing with anthrax-filled bombs, leading to their inevitable death [1][3]. - The confessions include a detailed account of the preparation for biological warfare, including the collection of rats for plague testing, with a total of 26,000 rats sent to Unit 731 between April and July 1945 [4]. Group 2: Details of Biological Warfare - Sakihara Hideo ordered the transfer of typhoid and paratyphoid bacteria to Unit 731 for potency testing, which ultimately contributed to the deaths of four Chinese patriots [4]. - The article emphasizes the systematic approach taken by the Japanese military in conducting these experiments, showcasing the calculated nature of their war crimes [4].

Core Viewpoint - The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson emphasized the historical atrocities committed by the Japanese military during World War II, particularly the use of biological warfare and inhumane human experiments, as revealed by recently declassified Russian documents [1] Summary by Relevant Sections - **Historical Atrocities**: The spokesperson highlighted that the Japanese military openly violated international law during World War II by conducting biological warfare against the Chinese people, committing heinous human experiments, and perpetrating crimes against humanity [1] - **Call for Reflection**: The statement urged Japan to deeply reflect on its history of aggression, respect the feelings of the victims from China and other affected countries, and take concrete actions to sever ties with militarism to avoid repeating past mistakes [1] - **Significance of Historical Awareness**: The spokesperson noted that acknowledging history is essential for gaining respect, learning from the past is crucial for paving the future, and remembering past events is vital to prevent falling into the same pitfalls again [1]

Core Viewpoint - The article reveals the atrocities committed by the Japanese Unit 731 during World War II, including human experimentation and the use of biological weapons against Chinese civilians, as disclosed in recently declassified documents by the Russian Federal Security Service [2][3]. Group 1: Historical Context - The declassified documents indicate that the Japanese military, specifically Unit 731, conducted extensive research on various pathogens to develop biological warfare capabilities, targeting both Soviet and Chinese populations [3][4]. - Over 600,000 Japanese soldiers surrendered to the Soviet Red Army during the conflict in Northeast China, leading to investigations into those involved in biological weapon development [2]. Group 2: Human Experimentation - Unit 731 was responsible for numerous inhumane experiments, including the use of live human subjects to test the effects of diseases such as plague, anthrax, and cholera [3][4]. - The documents detail how Japanese forces used artillery shells filled with pathogens to infect hundreds of Chinese individuals, subsequently collecting data on infection rates to assess the effectiveness of the biological agents [3]. Group 3: Military Strategy - The correspondence from Ivan Dolgikh highlights that Japan had completed significant research on biological warfare methods before launching potential attacks against the Soviet Union from Northeast China [4].

Core Points - The declassified documents reveal that the Japanese Unit 731 conducted human experiments and used bacteriological weapons against Chinese civilians to assess infection rates and the effectiveness of pathogens [1][2] - The documents indicate that over 600,000 Japanese soldiers surrendered to the Soviet Red Army during the conflict in Northeast China, and the Soviet security agencies investigated those involved in the development of biological weapons [1] - A specific report from 1947 highlighted Japan's preparations for bacteriological warfare against the Soviet Union, including the establishment of Unit 731 in Harbin [2] Summary by Sections - **Human Experiments and Bacteriological Warfare**: Unit 731 was involved in extensive human experimentation, using Chinese, Russian, and condemned Japanese individuals to test various pathogens, including plague and anthrax [2] - **Military Context**: The documents detail Japan's strategic plans to use biological warfare against the Soviet Union, indicating that significant research had been completed prior to their military actions [2] - **Surrender and Investigation**: The surrender of over 600,000 Japanese soldiers led to investigations by Soviet authorities into those who had participated in the development of biological weapons, highlighting the scale of the wartime activities [1]