Never again – but for whom?

September 1, 2025

I commend George Browning, former Anglican Bishop, for his valiant fight for the rights of Palestinians and for Jewish, Armenia, Rwanda, and Gaza holocausts to be remembered and not repeated.

However, there appears to be an unconscious disremembering, as shown by the absence of even a cursory mention by Browning of the horrors suffered by people in the Far East (a somewhat pejorative Anglo-Saxon term). Across East and Southeast Asia, tens of millions suffered untold brutalities under World War II Japanese imperialism. Notably, the horrific Nanking Massacres and Unit 731 (Imperial Japanese Army chemical and biological warfare research unit, 1935-45).

On 3 September, Beijing will be commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Chinese people’s war of resistance against Japanese aggression. According to Kyodo News, the Japanese Government, through its embassies and diplomatic channels, has asked other countries to refrain from attending events held in China.

Imagine Germany telling the world to boycott World War II remembrance events. That would be unthinkable and thoroughly condemned, especially by British and EU Governments. Yet, Japan is doing just that with impunity, with Western government, including Australia, remaining silent. Selective holocaust remembrance is alive and well.