In the annals of history, certain events serve as stark reminders of humanity's capacity for evil.

Grounded in substantial evidence and a rigorous legal framework, the Tokyo Trials, conducted from May 3, 1946, under the auspices of the International Military Tribunal for the Far East (IMTFE), stand as a testament to the atrocities committed by Japanese militarists during their war of aggression. Held to implement the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation, the trials embodied the collective will of both the victorious nations and the victimized peoples.

The trials were not an exercise in "victor's justice" but a meticulously conducted legal process involving judicial representatives from 11 nations prosecuting those responsible for Japan's imperialist expansion and violations of international law.

The prosecution of 25 Class-A war criminals, including the infamous Hideki Tojo, which resulted in sentences that ranged from death to imprisonment, was a testament to the international community's commitment to upholding justice and accountability.

Speaking on Sunday, which marks the 80th anniversary of their commencement, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs rightly stressed that the Tokyo Trials stand as a solemn testament to humanity's conscience and a cornerstone in safeguarding the outcomes of the victory in the World Anti-Fascist War.

The historical justice delivered by the Tokyo Trials, along with the Nuremberg Trials, established a crucial precedent for international law and accountability. To deny or challenge these verdicts is to undermine the very foundations of the postwar order and the principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter.

But as we reflect on these events, it is clear that Japan must not be allowed to forget the lessons of the past, lest the mistakes that led to one of the darkest periods in human history are repeated.

Eighty years after the Tokyo Trials, the specter of Japanese militarism persists. Right-wing forces in Japan continue to deny and distort the judgments of the trials, seeking to whitewash the nation's wartime atrocities. This revisionism is evident in the alteration of history textbooks, which indoctrinate younger generations with a sanitized version of Japan's past. Such actions are compounded by the visits of Japanese officials and politicians to the Yasukuni Shrine, where convicted war criminals are honored, further glorifying figures who should be remembered as perpetrators of aggression.

These moves, as the Foreign Ministry spokesperson noted, run counter to Japan's stated commitment to peace and undermine the very foundations of the postwar order.

Moreover, Japan's right-wing forces are actively pursuing remilitarization, deploying offensive weapons and advocating for revision of the pacifist Constitution. These actions are in direct contradiction to Japan's postwar renunciation of militarism. The push for remilitarization and constitutional reform signals a dangerous shift towards a more aggressive national posture, one that threatens regional stability and global security.

The resurgence of militarism in Japan is not merely a domestic issue but a global concern. Forgetting the lessons of the past can have dire consequences, as Mei Ru'ao, the Chinese judge at the Tokyo Trials, succinctly warned, "Amnesia of past sufferings may lead to future disasters".

That is why air-raid sirens echoed across Jinan on Sunday in solemn commemoration of the events of May 3, 1928, when Japanese troops, under the pretext of "protecting Japanese nationals", launched brutal attacks in Jinan, capital of Shandong province, killing over 6,000 Chinese soldiers and civilians.

History cannot be denied, distorted, or forgotten. Accepting the judgment of the Tokyo Trials was a prerequisite for Japan's return to the international community. The rise of a new type of militarism in Japan, if left unchecked, poses a tangible threat to regional and global peace.

The international community must remain vigilant against any attempts to reverse the verdicts of the Tokyo Trials. Allowing Japan to forget its past transgressions not only dishonors the victims of its aggression but also paves the way for a resurgence of militarism in the country, with potentially catastrophic consequences. The collective memory of the past must serve as a bulwark against the resurgence of aggression, ensuring that the sacrifices made during World War II are not in vain.

As Japan's right-wing forces seek to distort history and revive militarism. It is imperative that Japan confronts its past honestly and works towards a future of peace and cooperation. The international community must play its part in ensuring that the past is not distorted or forgotten so atrocities such as the massacre in Jinan are never repeated.