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Wang Jingwei: China鈥檚 traitor or protector?

The national hero was branded a traitor for collaborating with Japan during World War Two. But Pan Chia-sheng鈥檚 memories of him tell a very different story.

In 1937, Japan invaded China committing atrocities including the Nanjing Massacre. Wang Jingwei was a Chinese national hero and second-in-command of China鈥檚 ruling Nationalist Party. He wanted to negotiate with Japan but his colleagues wouldn鈥檛 listen. So he defected, and in 1940 he agreed to lead a Japanese-controlled puppet government in Nanjing.

Many Chinese have hated him ever since 鈥� his name is synonymous with the word 鈥楬anjian鈥�, a traitor to China.

But Pan Chia-sheng鈥檚 memories of living under Wang Jingwei鈥檚 government tell a very different story. He speaks to Ben Henderson.

(Photo: Wang Jingwei. Credit: Wang Wenxing via Wang Jingwei Irrevocable Trust)

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Thu 25 Jan 2024 03:50GMT

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