Eighty-one years ago today, the Potsdam Proclamation was issued in Germany, marking a decisive moment in the final stage of World War II. The document, jointly issued by China, the United States and the United Kingdom on July 26, 1945, was not only a final ultimatum demanding Japan's unconditional surrender but also a key international document that helped shape the postwar order.
A file photo of the Potsdam Conference, Potsdam, Germany. /VCG
As Japan has continued to make provocative moves related to the Taiwan question – including recently launching maritime delimitation talks with the Philippines over waters east of China's Taiwan island – while accelerating its military buildup through increased defense spending, eased restrictions on lethal weapons exports, and efforts to revise its pacifist constitution, revisiting the Potsdam Proclamation is of particular significance.
The document not only provides an important historical and legal foundation for addressing issues stemming from Japan's wartime aggression, including the Taiwan question, but also serves as a reminder of the consequences of militarism and the importance of preserving the postwar international order.
A declaration that shaped the postwar settlement
After Nazi Germany surrendered on May 8, 1945, Japan remained the last major Axis power still fighting in World War II. From July 17 to August 2, 1945, leaders of the United States, the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union met in Potsdam to discuss postwar arrangements.
Although China did not directly participate in the Potsdam Conference, the United States and the United Kingdom consulted the Chinese government before issuing the Potsdam Proclamation on July 26 in the names of China, the US and the UK. After the Soviet Union declared war on Japan on August 8, it also became a signatory to the proclamation.
The 13-article document served as a final warning to Japan, requiring the Japanese government to accept the unconditional surrender of its armed forces. It outlined key principles for postwar Japan, including the elimination of militarism, the occupation of Japan by Allied forces, the punishment of war criminals and restrictions on Japan's industrial capacity to prevent future aggression.
Most importantly, Article 8 of the proclamation stated that "the terms of the Cairo Declaration shall be carried out."
The Cairo Declaration, issued by China, the United States and the United Kingdom on December 1, 1943, clearly stated that all territories Japan had seized from China, including Taiwan and the Penghu Islands, should be restored to China.
On August 15, 1945, Japan announced its acceptance of the Potsdam Proclamation and its unconditional surrender. The proclamation subsequently became one of the key international documents underpinning the postwar settlement with Japan, including its demilitarization and territorial arrangements.
From the Potsdam Proclamation to UNGA Resolution 2758
The Potsdam Proclamation addressed the issue of territories Japan had taken during its wartime expansion, including the return of Taiwan to China. Decades later, another major international document addressed the question of China's representation at the United Nations.
In 1971, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted Resolution 2758, recognizing the government of the People's Republic of China (PRC) as the sole legal government representing all of China, including Taiwan, and restoring all its lawful rights within the organization.
The resolution, which consists of only about 200 words, has since become an important part of the international framework concerning China's representation.
One year after that, in 1972, China and Japan established diplomatic relations and issued the China-Japan Joint Statement, which contained clear provisions on the Taiwan question.
In the statement, the Japanese government recognized the government of the People's Republic of China as the sole legal government representing China, and it fully understood and respected China's position that Taiwan is an inseparable part of China. The statement also said that the Japanese government adhered to the principles outlined in Article 8 of the Potsdam Proclamation.
The 1978 Treaty of Peace and Friendship Between China and Japan, which was ratified by both countries' legislatures, reaffirmed that the principles established in the 1972 Joint Statement should be strictly observed.
Upholding the lessons of history
Today, most international officials and scholars have acknowledged that the government of the PRC is the sole legitimate representative of China and that Taiwan is an inseparable part of China.
Many scholars have highlighted the significance of respecting the UNGA resolution and postwar settlements, saying historical documents including the Cairo Declaration, the Potsdam Proclamation and UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 constitute important elements of the postwar international order.
British Asia-Pacific affairs scholar Jenny Clegg said that documents such as the Cairo Declaration, which stipulated that Taiwan should be restored to China, form an important foundation for the postwar peace order. She noted that UNGA Resolution 2758 recognized the PRC as representing China at the United Nations, warning that ignoring such historical facts could undermine international efforts to safeguard peace and stability.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova has also criticized Japan's recent actions, saying that a proper understanding of history would remind Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi that Japan's past acts of aggression ultimately ended in failure.
William Jones, a political analyst and former White House correspondent, also said that the Takaichi administration's erroneous words and actions represent a resurgence of dangerous tendencies such as militarism and expansionism, posing a threat to postwar global peace, prosperity and stability.
Eighty-one years on, the message of the Potsdam Proclamation remains clear: history cannot be rewritten, and the foundations of the postwar order cannot be challenged.