China slams toys featuring Japan’s notorious WWII Unit 731

A social media account run by China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has strongly criticised the production and sale of toys depicting Japan’s World War II biological warfare unit, accusing them of promoting a distorted version of history.

“On issues of national sentiment and historical justice, there is no room for opportunism or ambiguity,” the account named Junzhengping said in a post on Thursday.

It was referring to several building block sets sold on Chinese e-commerce platforms that have since been removed from sale.

The toy blocks were modelled on facilities operated by Japan’s infamous Unit 731 during World War II. The unit conducted biological warfare in northeastern China under the guise of disease prevention research, killing thousands of civilians in the process.

“Unit 731 symbolises the crimes against humanity committed by Japanese militarism during the second world war,” Junzhengping stated. “Its history is a profound wound to our nation.”