Hundreds of Chinese families seek wartime compensation from Japan

The Chinese courts will rule in the plaintiff's favor, and Japan will of course not pay. So the Chinese will sieze whatever Japanese assets they can lay a claim upon in Chinese territory, so Japan will end up pulling stakes in Japan and moving to Vietnam or somewhere else

But lawyers say the impounding of the Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd ship is giving them hope.

Regardless of what the merits are of these new cases, the MOL case was very different.

MOL accepted the contractual liabilities of the company that made the original contract by buying the company and assuming its debts.

I am guessing that companies like -Yantai Mitsubishi Cement- must be incorporated in China under Chinese law. The fact that some of the shareholders just happen to be other companies in Japan that might themselves be liable, doesn't mean that the company in China (which presumably under Chinese law is a seperate legal person) should be saddled with the liable. What they are proposing is almost a reverse veil lifting where the company actually doesn't have limited liability from its shareholders rather than the other way around.

For example: you buy some shares in Huawei on the stock market. You fail to pay personal parking tickets in China. The Chinese government goes after Huawei instead since they can't get to you.

The difference in Germany is that the companies who were complicit in forced labour still exist as the original incorporated entities and the forced labour took place in Germany with German courts having jurisdiction (although I think most companies agreed to settle the cases).

The law obviously doesn't take away from the fact that forced labour did happen, and maybe these companies should compensate victims on moral grounds even if they can't be made to do so.

My God, can these countries JUST get over the war.. Yes, it happened, Yes, Japan was ruthless, Yes, people got killed and yes, islands were taken over... Please for the love of the rest of the world that has to deal with counties like this.... MOVE ON... please.

I foresee in 100+ years, this will still go on... it's just a bunch of countries bickering at each other... reminding each other a few times a year, that what they did was bad..

No surprise there, we all saw this coming when Mitsui O.S.K. calmly agreed to pay paid $28 mil for their ship.

No surprise there, we all saw this coming when Mitsui O.S.K. calmly agreed to pay paid $28 mil for their ship.

Yep. From that, the Chinese learned that yes, you CAN blackmail Japan, and these people are just in for a piece of the pie.

Oh god, I've said this about the Mitsui case, but in fundament this "new" legal doctrine of trying to get around treaties by claiming civil suits is utterly reprehensible and is just demanding reparations by a different name.

I won't call the cases "baseless" in the sense they probably were conscripted and the conditions probably were sucky. But treaties are there to put a stop to such business so countries can start to have normal relations after the war.

@5petals Actually, China agreed to give up her right to reparations in 1972. Now, they are finding a cheap legal dodge to restart them.

Further, the Senkaku thing has China warming up the heat slowly over the past several decades, so people are duped into seeing any Japanese moves as "provocative'. A person that maintains a long-term perspective can see who is being the aggressor.

As BertieWooster suggests, if this practice ever gets debated in an international court (say ICJ), for their own interests many nations will have to strike it down.

Yeah what a lot of cods wallop, so if this succeeds , I am going to organise a class action against Germany and japan on behalf of all the old soldiers from NZ and Australia who fought in the first war and the second war, the case will be heard in a kangaroo court to ensure our claims do not fail and these two offending nations will be liable for all costs incurred or we will seize any assets we see fit until such time as the settlements are paid.

Then once we have partied up on our new found wealth we will be suing the American, Korean and Vietnamese govts for the Korean and the Vietnam wars that Anzac soldiers fought in, and then onto to Iraq Afghanistan.

Once we have been through all this we will take on the war on drugs, then well, lets see where this madness will end.

Oh and by the way if our two claims fail over the first two wars we will then pursue the british govt as it was them who we were defending.

I am sure some of you will disagree with this though as you'll just see it as some sort of money making venture and not a legitimate claim at all.

Sir_Edgar, are you aware that WWII claims have been settled by treaties?

Politics and propaganda being played out in the so-called Communist China legal kangaroo system is a great farce.

Who controls the courts in Communist China?

Oh, that's easy, the Politburo Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China. Don't know who that is, well let me give you some help. It is made up of the 7 most powerful Communist in China. They decide what Communist China will do and how they will handle things, Then they pass onto their minions what they want done and the minions do the work.

They are following Document Number 9 to the letter.

This is a farce being written by the 7 puppeteers and their 50-cent Army is hard at work spreading the propaganda.

Here is a simple question for all those 50-cent army members out there,

Should the 80,000,000+ victims of Communist China's repression, slave labor, torture, imprisonment and mass murder also be compensated?

Remember, before you answer make sure to choose your words carefully or you may end up at a reeducation camp somewhere cold building electronic equipment.

This is just part of a cheaply scripted reality tv show.

this must be the most stupid thing ive ever seen! most desperate country!

I guess we won't be seeing a ABE / XI summit anytime soon.

What a shame.

Are you aware that these 'treaties' are controversial with many (no, not just Chinese) viewing them as invalid?

That's right, why should we bound by international treaties when there are our personal opinions against them which just happens to be shared by some scale of unquantifiable number of others, just like the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty and certain articles of the Geneva Convention.

We should not be bound by past events, when we are certainly under the assumption that any early post-war arrangements established between China and Japan that are inconvenient to the Chinese are plain wrong and should be ignored.

@NeoJamal

Why didn't the plaintiffs bring their cases forward much earlier?

Because a.) they felt that they had no prospect of success until the Chinese court (in their estimation) changed its stance on historical claims. b.) the Chinese statute of limitations, which is much stricter than Japan's , had expired but now they hope that the court will make a 'public interest' exception for them and allow the expired claims.

Just consider why these plaintiffs could never have brought their cases in other jurisdictions apart from China and Japan, like Europe and the US where Japanese wartime legacy corporations have had presence.

Because they can't. These places have no jurisdiction since the injury they are complaining of didn't occur in these countries. The fact that the defendant has assets there doesn't mean the country can claim jurisdiction over the defendant for wrongs done outside the country.

Even the German government who have supposedly come clean with their past hide themselves behind legal technicalities such as their statutes of limitations.

Every country has a limitations period for claims including China. Japan is 3 to 10 year depending on the type of case. I read China is 2 years for all civil claims and only 1 year for personal injury claims... shorter than anywhere I have ever heard of. One rational (among many) is that the defendant should have a reasonable opportunity to defend themselves. After 5, 10 or 50 years all of the evidence which favours the defendant may have been destroyed. Apparently, Chinese courts are allowed to waive the limitations period if it is in the public interest.

the descendants of hundreds of Chinese men forced to work in wartime Japan are taking big, modern-day Japanese corporates to court. They are seeking millions in compensation.

This is so stupid. Just because your ancestors suffered during the war, doesn't mean you get to be compensated for it. Stupid gold diggers always looking for a way to cash in on other's misfortunes.

First and foremost this is absurd. China - explain at what generation must a people not be held accountable for the actions of a previous generation? Prove that in court of law first. This is akin to reparations for Blacks by the US and UK for slavery, and half the reasons radical Islamist continue to use 13th century disputes to this day to kill people.. War has consequences, for all sides. So 'electing' the best politicians and holding them accountable is the mandate for all People of every Nation, to avoid war in this modern, educated era of mankind. We either move forward as a whole planet of people, or we will continue to have wars big and small for often, greedy, petty excuses and actions.

For Gods sake!!! Enough is enough! War is bad! No debate there，but bad things happen and did! You don't see the Jews acting like this?? China, Korea both of you grow up!!!

Your trying to beat a beat dog!!!

Frankly speaking I am sick of it!!!

The suits are filed against private corporations, not the gov't. The Japanese gov't, however, has tried to argue that its diplomatic treaties cover the nasty behavior of these private corporations.

That doesn't seem fair, especially considering that conditions at other Japanese corporations may have been humane. How did the bad corporations act after the war? Did they recognize their misdeeds and reach out to their brutalized victims? Or did they pretend nothing happened while hoping that Tokyo's diplomatic efforts would allow them to bury their sordid past?

I think that it's sick to use other peoples suffering to make a quick buck (excuse the pun)When will people actually realize that no amount of money will make up for things ? It's just a shame that the Chinese only care about money.

The forced conscription from China and the use of Chinese as forced laborers in Japan was a function of (wartime Japanese Imperial) rule, and does not make Mitsubishi Corp's responsibility legally binding. But it is a fact that the Chinese were made to work more than 12 hours a day without breaks and that they were tortured if they resisted.

So we are reopening the can of worms.

40,000 men were taken to Japan against their will to work

And at least 40 millions others (or the same) taken by their Chinese buddies a few years later.

about 700 plaintiffs lodged a case against

So Chinese government should face what ? 700 000 complaints ?

the Chinese were made to work more than 12 hours a day without breaks and that they were tortured if they resisted.

Please, check the labels of the clothes you are wearing and objects around you and tell me who made them ? Are you sure these workers are not forced to work more than 12 hrs a day, not using coal from mines where young people get killed or mess their lungs routinely ? I would really wish the energy was used to help these people out of the hell they are living now... instead of trying to create a new conflict and get cash, using the past.

No compensation for the victims of communism? Hmm.

@Storm

Once we have been through all this

Good luck "getting through this" with wars and other atrocities in the 20th Century alone, within a single lifetime

all this seeking damages stuff and reparations is never ending........ Maybe the past should become the past after some time has.... er....... passed?

Weak! Weak! And just: weak! These people are little mice in a world roamed by eagles and hawks! After years of letting your disease fester, your weakness can no longer be contained by your vessel of victim hood: I say let it boil over and spill, along with the insides of your yellow bellies. Many more Chinese perished under Moa's gavel than the sword of the JIA! Where's the outcry! The appalling demand for money!

I completely disagree. These people lose on the technicality that they cannot bring claims in Japanese courts and the Chinese courts (so far) have correctly refused to agree that they have any jurisdiction.

You cannot say that their claims are baseless without looking at each and every case. The reality is that if proven true they would win their cases in many other countries.

Let's agree to respectfully disagree!

Agreed

I see where some comments make mention of Senkoku. Islands under Japanese authority since the war. China has no claim that can be validated and refuses to go through the ICJ. The same applies to their claim for the Spratleys and the Paracels. Land grab, or ocean grab, if you like. Either way it is reprehensible and pure robbery.

Hundreds of Chinese families seek wartime compensation from Japan

Eff off. The issue of compensations was settled decades ago. China agreed to that at the time, and now they're going back on their word. Speaks volumes about them doesn't it? Of course, this move is perfectly timed don't you think? Kinda distracts from China's aggressive actions against Vietnam. Well, it would if we had the attention span of a gnat. Take a hike, and stop antagonizing your neighbours. This seeking of compensation is nothing more than a smokescreen.

Chinese family too greedy and too spoiled, why Japan should pay this...again? They must complain about it after war, but after almost 70 years of this, isn't it too late??

Or if Japan can pay, then only to those one who survive, and not to their greedy family. Victim who live still should be older then 85(90?) guess...so, Japan can pay to their food/care (not vip level care, just same as other pensioners get) till they die, if Japan really need to pay some. But pay to family? For what? Japan didn't do any to families...but those families members will probably kill each other for money, what they request, or this request is China government brainwash propaganda against Japan again. Even USSR didn't do such to their own people. USSR people not hate Germans, even Nazi government plan to kill all of them, but Chinese hate Japan, even Japanese not plan to kill each Chinese, this is weird.

"I am against all forms of reparations towards any group of people."

It's easy to say that when you or a close family member haven't been enslaved or grossly abused in living memory, and the abuser today is considerably wealthier than you will ever be, while it downplays or ignores the fact the abuse ever took place.

I agree that what happened 70-100 years ago was very wrong but let's not let past wars start a present war! Drop it, forget it, leave it along as my relatives had done. No amount of money will change what happened. It'll only take money from the hands of those who really need it, like starving children. Let's sue governments for present day crimes against Fukushima problems or China for all the health problems in Korea and Japan due to their pollution. Pleas drop all this past war BS and stop looking for a quick payout!

China is taking it too far. Japan should not bend in this time. If they want to dig up old war issues then there a millions to take care of, leave the past behind and try to concentrate on peoples life at both sides. Some mentioned that its got nothing to do with the government and its a civil law suit. I remember reading somewhere that an Italian court had summoned Chinese leader Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao for crimes against Human rights. So if the Chinese plaintiffs want the Japanese to pay, we would also like to see the two Chinese leaders present themselves to the Italian court. Then I would say its all fair and love.

Personally, I find the level of support for Chinese barbarism horrifying.

It is a Communique, not a Treaty. Oh, gee, I guess it is OK to break its word then. Especially since the Communique was the basis of the binding treaty.

Japan did not pay reparations. Perhaps, but do remember the Japanese had to leave a fair amount of assets in China. Further, they got huge lumps of ODA they won't have gotten wo a treaty. So they already got benefits. And the Chinese government agreed.

And this misses the fundamental evil behind this new scheme. In separating civil suits from reparations, whether Japan paid is irrevelant. Each person could have received a billion already and they could still sue - under this new legal doctrine.

Japanese arguments are technicalities. No, it is the Sino-Korean argument. The ability of a treaty or other government level commitment to actually be binding is a fundamental part of international relationships, not an easily ignored technicality.

But it is a civil suit. Yes, until the Chinese government takes it up - then it is the Chinese government demanding reparations under a different name.

The Imperial Japanese government doesn't exist anymore. That government was dissolved by the United States. The modern Japanese government has nothing to do with the war time government that did those things.

@toshiko The Chinese government should end this nonsense quickly either by claiming prescription, by pointing to the Communique, by giving them a "symbolic win" but with no damage award or any other such means. Basically, the kind of things they have (intelligently) been doing up until recently.

But once the Chinese judiciary awards the damage, it becomes a governmental matter to enforce the ruling. And that's just China claiming (or even grabbing) reparations they've given up under a different fig leaf.

In this litigation, plaintiffs are civilians and defendants are corporations. Plaintiffs never sued before and so, this couldn't be a done deal. Chinese Govt will never gain in this litigation because Chinese Govt is not involved in this lawsuit. /ditto with Japanese Govt. It was not sued.

China only looks weaker by the day.

Let's hope for the sake of the US economy, that Vietnam doesn't jump on this bandwagon!

MOL paid because they have a very expensive contract with Baosteel which is worth much much more than 28 MUSD. Baosteel "allowed" the vessel to be arrested because of that contract. All allegedly of course.

A true historian is politically and nationalistically impartial. When these articles start "Chinese historians", are we really to believe they are allowed to have the ability to be objective and impartial?

I know one. Outside of China, once you've gained their trust, they will speak. Inside China ... forget it. It's the party line and their a propagandist or a diplomat. To become an academic one must be a party member and two the party line.

This is just the greed and opportunism of a few being exploited for greater political aims by the party and, culturally, very Chinese. The old idea that family members or descendants can be held responsible and punished for actions they did not carry out is part of Chinese culture, but not ethical nor legal.

Not that China cares what the rest of the world considers to be legal, or legal process.

They'll be 10,000s lined up by the Party, if they think there's a slice of Japan's fat pie at the end to be had.

Can we really believe that these developments are disconnected from the rest of China's misinformation war and perpetuation of negative stereotypes of Japan.

5petals' claim that the Senkaku Island issues was "put on hold for diplomatic reasons" is another part of the troll army script. It was never. It's a complete illogical jumble of events that boils down to one Chinese leader making a unilateral statement at an unofficial event, a news conference. Creating these emotive, illogical, apparently moral jumbles is just part of their modus operandi.

In 1930s China, if you were a landless peasant, you got treated the same regardless of whoever your master was, you were basically a slave. It was work or die. It was not right from today's perspective but you have to see it in its historical context.

Yes, I only hope the Communist Party has the integrity to open the books for the 100,000s tortured and interred for being nothing more then intellectuals and the 70 million Mao led to their deaths.

The Mitsubishi Group is a National Multinational Enterprises. However, there is no parent company. It is made up of about 40 individual companies. Each of the Mitsubishi companies owns substantial portions of the shares of the others. Instead of a parent company exercising control over subsidiaries, the group operates under the direction of a triumvirate of the three most important sister companies: the Mitsubishi Bank, the Mitsubishi Corporation, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. The senior managers of these three companies act as the co-chairman of a coordinating board called the Kinyo-Kai, or Friday Conference. The Kinyo-Kai, which is made up of the top executives of 25 of the Mitsubishi companies, establishes common policies as a sort of senior board of directors for the entire group.

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So it will take time it to announce how it will face the lawsuit if any, Maybe it will announce after 2nd friday in June? How to stop helping Modernization of Japanese Industry for Chinese Government?

China beating its chest again. Except it's becoming a boring prank so people are turning their backs.

Yes! My first post!

China is not sueing. Attorneys with $$$$ mind are instigating civilians who wind up in majority of award paying plenty attorney fees. I wouldn;t bad mouth Chinese Govt. for this case because Chinese Govt is not plaintiff in this litigation.

This is insane; every now and then, they all come out and sue someone’s. If United Nations is serious about this they should get they acts together and say to China enough is enough. It has been over 60 years and you cannot constantly bring up the past, this is the main reason why people are killing each other because of the past. Is there an international statutory limitation where people can and cannot sue for compensations? Japanese people have moved on and they have made a significant contribution to China economy in the last 2 decades. What else do they want? Many more surprises to come. May be it is time for some another nations that suffered under the Chinese rule start to sue the crap out of them. Take one to know one!

@Jeffrey

It's easy to say that when you or a close family member haven't been enslaved or grossly abused in living memory, and the abuser today is considerably wealthier than you will ever be, while it downplays or ignores the fact the abuse ever took place.

So you would have no problem with displaced and abused native peoples suing Great Britain then? Not to mention colonial troops sent to their deaths as cannon fodder?

@Kazuaki Shimazaki: For a few years, Mitsubishi has been cooperating China's "Modernization of Chinese Industry" Current communism in China differ from Marxism Communism, not like when Mao was in power. Fact that there are too many millionaires and billionaires mean that is Capitalism Communism. It is not going back to <ao's time ideology to censor and interfere Chinese Justice system, Damage will be decided by Court, not the Govt. Are you suggesting China should go back to the system of old Mao time Govt? Are you suggesting China will become Tyrant and oppress Chinese citizens?

@Kazuaki Shimazaki: For a few years, Mitsubishi has been cooperating China's "Modernization of Chinese Industry" Current communism in China differ from Marxism Communism, not like when Mao was in power. Fact that there are too many millionaires and billionaires mean that is Capitalism Communism. It is not going back to <ao's time ideology to censor and interfere Chinese Justice system, Damage will be decided by Court, not the Govt. Are you suggesting China should go back to the system of old Mao time Govt? Are you suggesting China will become Tyrant and oppress Chinese citizens?

Toshiko, first, like it or not, Court is part of the Judiciary, which like it or not is Government. Further, to have any force, Judiciary needs the help of the Executive. So that's at least two branches of government involved here.

And the court should not be used as a convenient way to de facto violate the essence of treaties and communiques whose very purpose is to put the past behind so both countries can have productive relationships.

The court's powers are to arbitrate within the legal framework. To effectively void a Bilateral Communique by its decree is an abuse of its authority.

@At Kazuaki: Govt did not bother Mitsui case when Govt wanted to have bigger trade with Mitsui. Govt is not oppressing its citizen. It even backed down one son in one family policy. It did not interfere Court decision. In Mitsui case, Court acted on its own,

Yawn.....

Is the Chinese Gov't using this case to put pressure against Japan? Probably Yes.

Still, these people are victims and should have their grievances heard.

It is a politically calculated move by the Chinese Government. There is no doubt that some of these claims are legitimate, however that does not sufficiently explain why these class action suits are being pushed to the fore now. Under previous Chinese governments including Mao's, this was not a big issue. Now it has become politically expedient for these lawsuits to take center stage and it is obvious that the political opportunism of the Chinese government is not really concerned with the people who suffered. It is very much a political issue now, although it should not be. If the Chinese government were really concerned with this they would have made it a pressing issue 50 years ago, but at that time they were too busy working their own people to death. I have no doubt that some of these claims are legitimate, however on the assumption of all things being equal it would seem in terms of sheer numbers of people who were forced laborers, surely China's government is by far the largest offender. It would be far more logical for people to pettition the Chinese government with law suits for the excesses committed during Chairman Mao's brutal reign. What about the families of landowners who were forced to wear dunce caps while their land was taken away from them? Although Japanese nationalist denial is abhorrent, there is one thing that history makes abundantly clear; No one has abused, exploited and victimized the Chinese on such a grand scale as the Chinese themselves.

The facts are that most of Japan's victims, including millions in China, have not received a penny. The small minority of cases in which compensation has been paid, the sums have been laughable. Why has there not been more pressure on Japan to do the right thing by countless innocent victims? In the Treaty of San Francisco in 1951, signed by the U.S., Japan, and many other nations, this treaty formally settled all issues arising out of the war. However, China was not a signatory of this treaty, which of course was by far the largest group of potential claimants for compensation.

When China began opening up in the 70s, one of Japan's first moves was to press Zhou Enlai, to renounce the Chinese people's claims to compensation. For reasons that have never been made clear, he duly did so. His renunciation was endorsed by Deng Xiaoping in the late 70s, and Japan promised to favor China in its foreign-aid program. While this did essentially nothing for the victims, Chinese officials got to designate the projects on which Japan's money would be spent. Compensation issued was settled already.

China receive a fortune in oversea donations, grants, soft loans and technological transfers ... beyond those which they stole and copied ... from which ordinary citizens have benefited hugely.

If it's citizens have a problem with the way their government handled the matter, then they should take it up with their government.

Oh, but I forgotten ... China's not a democracy and does not operate according to the rule of law, and questioning the government gets your interned for life in a concentration camp being "re-educated".

@Jusen

The Imperial Japanese government doesn't exist anymore. That government was dissolved by the United States. The modern Japanese government has nothing to do with the war time government that did those things.

Sorry Jusen, but it doesn't really work like that. Even if you assume that a sovereign could just be 'dissolved' like a bankruptcy... you would have to answer why the assets of the old imperial government should just be taken by the 'new' government of Japan before settling all the debts of the imperial government. In any event, the courts in Japan actually disagree with your assessment.

Thought this was a done deal. When Japan and China normalized relations, reparations became null and void. If people can make claims what will China do about the Koreans, Indians, Vietnamese, and Soviets. Precedent is a beautiful thing.

Soon to be:

"Hundreds of Chinese businesses seek riot compensation from Vietnam"

and in 5 years

"Billions of Chinese citizens seek murder compensation from Chinese government"

It's nice to dream

In case some court takes this class action lawsuit and decide claim is legitimate and then loses, Japanese companies can appeal Chinese higher courts, Pay to individuals will be a lot cheaper. So, pay and forget like Mitsui did if they lose. These companies are very profitable and can afford, Just private corporation money, anyway.

What these family will use is none of our business.

The article said that there were 40,000 Chinese were brought to Japan and worked as forced laborers. I don't have the exact stats, but I bet there are more than just 40,000 Chinese trainees, on fake marriages, fake student visas who are fighting tooth and nail using all the available leeways including their bodies just so they can stay here in Japan. See, they really want not just mere apology , bowing heads, and textbook revision. They want a slice of Japan. And a bigger one at that. Why? Because they have their own people here with Jcitizenship but deep loyalty to their Chinese motherland.

Abe San and it's cohorts r the one who opened the can of worm. China government (only) may have renounced its war reparation but does not stop individual Citizen for filing legal sue. In the past for sake of Sino Japan good relation China discourages such legal pursue, but tit for tat, I think Japan govt and it corp companies will face more good time from million if not thousand such actions, blame it on some selfish brainless politician. And the Japanese private companies who did this ought to pay now. Also expect more from Korean citizens too!

All is fair in love and war.

This is a civil lawsuit and nothing to do with Chinese Govt that has been getting help from Mitsubishi for its modernization of Chinese Industry.

These wealthy corporaation will be paying, not us or government, Not Japanese Govt or tax payers.I

Japan should just pay out and quit the denials and victim blaming so the entire Asian continent can finally move on. Good grief.

@CrimsonRedMoon

It's just a shame that the Chinese only care about money.

I bet a lot of them would prefer to have their time, health and relatives back, or just have that entire episode of their lives not happen by way of time manipulation making it be so there was not even a war.

You have a magic proposal to grant any of those things? I don't know, may you have a genie in a bottle or something?

Also, I bet a lot of them would rather see some certain people's heads on pikes than get a dime.

well, when the nationalist were playing with this, I guess they couldnt foresee those shina jin ever taking such action. Should of left it alone; China is a bigger baby than Japan, wouldnt want to make it worse.

Brian SuttonMAY. 13, 2014 - 06:23PM JST My God, can these countries JUST get over the war.. Yes, it happened, Yes, Japan was ruthless, Yes, people got killed and yes, islands were taken over... Please for the love of the rest of the world that has to deal with counties like this.... MOVE ON... please. I foresee in 100+ years, this will still go on... it's just a bunch of countries bickering at each other... reminding each other a few times a year, that what they did was bad..

In your eyes maybe, but you and your family, I presume, were not victims of Japan's aggression, so you don't have much right to tell them to just 'get over it' do you. Show a little empathy.

Why didn't the plaintiffs bring their cases forward much earlier?

If they were, why didn't the media, governments and the courts around the world not bother to hear them out until now?

Why do we posters seem to care about these victims' plights at this very moment, all the while we have ignored them for so long.

Just consider why these plaintiffs could never have brought their cases in other jurisdictions apart from China and Japan, like Europe and the US where Japanese wartime legacy corporations have had presence. Is justice in the West so heartless to the extent that they make legal technicalities as bars their cliams? You saw this effect described in the article itself:

[Bauxman] added that the [German] courts, however, do bar [claims on Nazi-era cases] on other grounds such as statutes of limitations and prescriptions against “old” claims.

Even the German government who have supposedly come clean with their past hide themselves behind legal technicalities such as their statutes of limitations.

What's with this cold hearted move? a claim should be good no matter how old it is, whether it be 50, 300, 1000 years old as long as there is a historical evil empire involved right?

There I say that Chinese court that approved the suit earlier this year against Mitsui O.S.K has made a groundbreaking move bringing back justice to justice by ignoring whatever western judicial technical garbage that would've surely failed the plaintiffs, and that's just as well because this is China, not some evil western power that the Japanese, the source of the issue have continually aspired to become.

KevinPhilipsBongMAY. 14, 2014 - 01:03AM JST China beating its chest again. Except it's becoming a boring prank so people are turning their backs.

Chinese family too greedy and too spoiled, why Japan should pay this...again?

Eff off. The issue of compensations was settled decades ago

Folks, lets get back on topic. This is not about China seeking reparations from Japan, it's about individual plaintiffs against Japanese companies who enslaved and exploited Chinese people during the war who only now are being heard by Chinese courts - they deserved to be heard and have no axe to grind with Japan or Japanese. Show a little compassion.

I am against all forms of reparations towards any group of people. Under the reparations logic, money somehow heals these wounds. Should Africans pay reps to african americans for selling them into slavery? Of course it sounds absurd, its always a third would people demanding for reps from a first world country.

Also, what are these families going to do with the money? spend it on booze and cigarettes? leisure? Don't expect them tto even know how to use such reps funding wisely.

@Skeeter27: Hey, Jews "don't act like this" because Germany was mature enough to step up and take responsibility, and did all it could to try and make it up to the Jewish victims. Very unlike Japan, which is always trying to weasel out of officially admitting its past evils by quibbling over technicalities and whatnot.

Japan, grow up!!!

I'm sick of your childishness!!!

igloobuyer,

Agreed, and allot of what the Japanese did got covered up. If you look it up, its pretty nasty stuff, no matter what you think of Chinese. The Germans made a wrong right to the Jews, but in the aftermath of the war, things were moving so fast to get Japan reconstructed that her attrocities were hardly addressed. I

What is so wrong with compensating people for suffering and damages? Isn't that what you're supposed to do?

Jay QueMAY. 13, 2014 - 09:23PM JST No compensation for the victims of communism? Hmm.

How is that even related?! It's a completely separate issue that will be dealt with, if and when, China decides to (I hope they do). Let's stay on topic - The issue here is Japanese company war time abuse and responsibility towards Chinese claimants.

Money heals all wound!

@ CrimsonRedMoon

It's just a shame that the Chinese only care about money.

Profile often? Anyway, the same could be said of the opportunist Japanese companies who exploited Chinese people during the war and never owned up and took responsibility for it.

Seems to me if Japan would of left the island issue alone, none of this would of started. Now, as predicted, its tit for tat. Japan wants to claim the islands, then China isnt going to play fair. Japan got a free pass on war attrocities, while Germany paid in full.

Sorry but I dont think "lets let bygones be bygones" is going to cut it here. Im no fan of Chinese, but when you start to dehumanize them and then they retaliate, well then the cats out of the bag and its never to return. Should of never touched it and focused on the economy.

Welcome to international business. By opening branches in Chinese cities to take advantage of cheap labour and cheap supplies they've put themselves in the jurisdiction of the Chinese courts.

The decision for these companies is simple. Close up shop in China, ending Chinese jurisdiction, or if the long-term benefits are more than the short-term cost of the compensation then pay up and shut up.

This is not a political issue, it is a business issue. Unfortunately we've all been brainwashed into seeing business interests as political. Businesses exist to serve society, not the other way around.

Hopefully this time those Chinese families got their justice.

Funny how everyone is backing Japan over the islands and blaming China, but when China starts filing suits, that were put on hold for diplomatic reasons (just as the island issue was until Ishi and gang stepped it up), we get "hey, cant you just leave the past alone" you dont want lawsuits, shouldnt of touched the island issue. Nobody cared before 2010.

I've met 3 NZ men forced to mine coal for Imperial Japan, it's true that Japan abused and used quasi slaves, the strong survived. Chinese captives were treated in an abhorrent way and are now relegated to a history that Japan denies. Pay up, shut up, can not move on until facts are faced.