Jap aggressors' plunder of resources leaves a big depression in Benxi

A copy of "city layout" reveals to the world the crime committed by Japanese invaders in frenziedly plundering Benxi, a city in northeast China's Liaoning Province, of its coal and iron resources during the Second World War. Today, serious aftermath of the evil acts is still troubling the city: it is literally sinking as the earth is gradually giving way due to past exploitation, and some miners' residences have been destroyed or cracked as a result. To address the situation, a large amount of funds is poured in annually from central and provincial authorities.

A reporter from Shenyang Evening News saw this "city plan" recently at the City Archives of Benxi--another evidence of Japanese invasion.

A city layout facilitating Japanese looting of mineral resources
This city plan drawn up in 1939 showed that all city facilities were designed to serve the Japanese troops: industrial zones were located along the banks of the Taizi River, to facilitate coal and iron transportation; workers' residences were close to industrial zones to save time on the way to work and speed up the plunder of minerals.

Unbridled plunder regardless of workers' lives
Historical records show that Benxi was a major iron production area in east Liaoning as early as 1411. In 1905 the city became a main coal production area in Asia. Iron extracted here was called "ginseng iron" while the high-quality coal could even burn a hole in an iron pot. After the "September 18" incident in 1931, Japanese invaders sped up their mineral looting here.

It is reported that all the low-phosphorus iron produced here (with an annual production of 180,000-200,000 tons at that time) were all taken way by Japan. Records show that when a coal mine caught fire, Japanese officers ordered to seal off the tunnel to reduce the amount of coal to be lost in burning, regardless of many Chinese miners trapped underground.

Predatory mining left behind a large tract of depression
After ruthless exploitation Japanese troops fled China, leaving behind numerous empty tunnels underground waiting for backfilling, as well as ruined vegetation above ground. As a result, the city suffered serious erosion of soil and houses built on these areas began to crack.

History will never forget this yellowing piece of city layout, which bears eternal evidence for the crime committed by Japanese invaders.

By People's Daily Online



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