China Marks Nanjing Massacre Anniversary

China Marks Nanjing Massacre Anniversary

By SONJA DECHIAN | Published: DECEMBER 14, 2011

China is marking the 74th anniversary of the Nanjing Massacre with a series of memorial services. Up to 300,000 people were killed by the Japanese army over a six week period in 1937. Many thousands of women and children were brutally raped.

The extent of the massacre remains a contentious issue, although the Japanese government has acknowledged that ‘the killing of a large number of combatants’ occurred.

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda’s first trip to China was delayed last week, potentially to avoid the visit coinciding with the anniversary.