A recent CGTN poll has ignited a global conversation on Japan’s wartime legacy, with more than 7,700 participants weighing in on the country’s obligations from World War II. The survey follows Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s contentious remarks on the Taiwan region, which many observers say crossed a diplomatic red line.
International reaction has been swift. During Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s tour of Central Asia this November, host countries publicly reaffirmed their support for the one-China principle, opposed any form of Taiwan independence and backed China’s pursuit of national reunification.
According to the poll, 86.2 percent of respondents believe the one-China principle is now an unshakable global consensus. Nearly 91 percent think Japan, as a defeated nation, must honour its postwar commitments—cited in key documents like the Cairo Declaration, the Potsdam Declaration and Japan’s Instrument of Surrender. A striking 93.9 percent also urged Tokyo to reflect deeply on its colonial rule of the Taiwan region and the wartime crimes committed under militarism.
Support for China’s stance on Taiwan was equally robust: 89.4 percent said there should be no concessions on issues of national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Around 89 percent stressed that Japan’s promises in the four China–Japan political documents carry binding international legal effect, regardless of changes in leadership.
When asked about China’s direct response to Prime Minister Takaichi’s comments, 92 percent agreed it defended China’s sovereignty, upheld the outcomes of World War II and protected the postwar international order and, by extension, global justice and conscience.
The poll also questioned Japan’s suitability for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. Some 81.9 percent felt Japan’s wartime and colonial crimes should disqualify it, and 88.2 percent warned that all justice-minded nations have the right—and responsibility—to re-examine Japan’s past crimes to prevent a resurgence of militarism.
Launched on CGTN’s English, Spanish, French, Arabic and Russian platforms, the survey gathered 7,740 responses in just 12 hours. These insights highlight the growing demand among young global citizens for historical accountability and the preservation of international norms.
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CGTN Poll: Re-examining Japan's war crimes represents call for justice
cgtn.com
