[JURIST] Several Chinese companies have reportedly donated more than $315,000 to help pay for lawsuits against the Japanese government for war crimes allegedly committed by Japanese troops [Wikipedia backgrounder] during their occupation of part of China during World War II. Representatives of three companies told reporters over the weekend that they planned on donating funds to help victims file suits against the government and related companies.

Hundreds of Chinese war crimes victims have filed suits against Japan since 1995, including victims and families who were harmed by bacterial and chemical weapons, forced laborers [JURIST report], and women who were forced to be sex slaves for the Japanese army [1993 Japanese Foreign Ministry statement]. Company representatives said they would help victims file their lawsuits in China since it is difficult to find justice in Japan; the Japanese government insists that compensation [JURIST report] surrounding these issues was resolved when China and Japan [JURIST news archives] established diplomatic relations in 1972. China Daily has more.