Chinese Envoy Warns Against Historical Denialism, Urges Vigilance on Colonial Legacies at UN

Dec 19, 2025 at 11:39 AM

|

Lanka Leader

China’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Fu Cong, issued a stern warning against attempts to deny historical aggression and revive militarism, while calling for global efforts to eradicate the enduring shadow of colonialism.

Addressing a high-level UN General Assembly plenary meeting commemorating the International Day against Colonialism, Ambassador Fu underscored that the world remains plagued by the ideological and political remnants of colonial rule.

"Although the colonial occupation has ended and the collapse of the colonial system is clearly visible, the world has not yet overcome the shadow of colonialism," Fu stated. He highlighted hegemony, unilateralism, and power politics as persistent colonial legacies.

A "Darkest Page" in Taiwan's History

Focusing on historical injustices, Fu singled out Japan's past colonial aggression. He described the period of Japanese occupation as "the darkest page in Taiwan's history," detailing what he termed colossal crimes.

"Japanese invaders committed enormous crimes and atrocities in Taiwan, killing more than 650,000 Taiwanese compatriots," Fu asserted. He further accused Japan of conscripting 200,000 Taiwanese youth into its military, exploiting more than 2,000 Taiwanese women, and plundering the island's natural resources in a destructive manner.

Three "Nevers" and a Call for Vigilance

From this history, Ambassador Fu articulated a firm principle for the international community. "We must never allow the history of aggression to be denied or distorted, we must never allow the revival of militarism, and we must never allow historical tragedies to repeat," he declared.

He called for the resolute safeguarding of the victorious outcomes of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, as well as the post-war international order.

"Any words or actions that challenge or attempt to disrupt the post-war international order can destabilize the world," Fu warned. "We must be very vigilant and resolutely oppose them."

Direct Demands to Japan

The Chinese envoy directed specific demands toward Tokyo. "As a country defeated in World War II, Japan must conduct a deep self-examination of its historical crimes and abide by its political commitments on the Taiwan issue," Fu said.

He urged Japan to "immediately stop its excessive provocative actions and retract its wrong statements," without providing further specifics.

A Path Forward: Eradicating Colonial Mentality

Looking ahead, Ambassador Fu called for a united international front to resist the "colonial mentality" across ideological, political, economic, cultural, and educational fields.

The international community should, he argued, work to "eradicate the remnants of colonialism, uphold international fairness and justice, and promote greater democracy and the rule of law in international relations."

The speech reinforces China's firm stance on historical issues related to Japan and positions the fight against colonial legacies as integral to achieving a more just and stable global order.