Taipei: As the world commemorates the 80th anniversary of the conclusion of World War II, two Taiwanese individuals have shared their personal accounts of fear and survival during the Pacific War under Japanese occupation, providing unique insights into Taiwan's involvement in the conflict.
According to Focus Taiwan, Yang Fu-cheng, born in 1922 in Tainan during Japanese colonial rule, recounted the grim realities faced by his generation. Many of his classmates were sent to the frontlines, with numerous failing to return. Growing up in a rural, impoverished village without electricity, Yang had limited options and, like many of his peers, ended up serving in the Japanese military when the Pacific War erupted.
Yang was assigned to a supply unit in Singapore, where he taught locals to cultivate vegetables for the military. However, many Taiwanese were dispatched to combat zones in China and Southeast Asia. Japanese records indicate that over 200,000 young Taiwanese were either conscripted or volunteered due to manpower shortages, but Yang suspects the true number was higher. He emphasized that this figure only accounts for those involved in the Pacific War, with many more serving as porters or supply carriers in China, including individuals from his own hometown, many of whom never returned.
Despite being in a support role, Yang faced significant danger as Allied forces frequently targeted transport ships, leading to numerous sinkings in the Bashi Channel and Philippine waters. The centenarian recalled the perilous journey from Kaohsiung to Singapore, noting the substantial loss of life along the way.
In another account, Jiang Jin-zao, born in 1930, described the fear induced by U.S. air raids on Keelung in 1945, aimed at disrupting Japanese military operations. With no shelters nearby, Jiang would flee to the mountains to watch the bombings. She vividly remembered the deafening sound of B-29 bombers and the terror when a bomb landed in a field near her, failing to explode.
Jiang recounted the chaos after an air raid injured a pregnant landlady, prompting her to flee to her grandmother's house amidst the cries of those around her. She described the overwhelming fear and uncertainty, emphasizing the profound emotional impact of the events.
Reflecting on his experiences, Yang expressed a desire for humanity to avoid conflict, noting that even animals assist one another. He questioned why humans, capable of reasoning and empathy, choose to engage in war.