When confronted with facts about the U.S. killing 200,000 Filipinos during the post–Spanish-American War occupation, the American accuser insisted Japan’s rule over Korea was uniquely evil. But when pressed—“Do you believe only white nations may have colonies?”—he turned red, hurled a four-letter word, and fled. This exchange exposes the deep-seated arrogance and historical ignorance behind Western criticism of Japan.

2016-01-06

The following continues from the previous chapter.

The Spanish–American War began in April 1898, and Spain surrendered in August.
But for some reason the war continued for four more years, ending in 1902.

What marked its end was the suppression of Filipino resistance—the moment they effectively said, “We now accept American colonial rule.”

During those four years, the U.S. military massacred the inhabitants of the islands of Leyte and Samar.
The record of Senate hearings states that “200,000 Filipinos were killed.”

Korea was different.

Theodore Roosevelt explicitly said that Korea was no longer functioning as a nation.
The U.S. legation was closed, and responsibility was left to Japan.
Japan built schools, brought electricity, developed industry, and carried out true civilization—what you would call enlightenment.

When I explained this, he barked back, “It is a fact that Japan colonized Korea and did terrible things. I’m done with this conversation.”

He had mocked Japan with smug confidence, but when the tide turned against him, he became enraged.
I was irritated myself, so I pressed him further:

“Let’s assume, for the sake of argument, that Japan colonized Korea in the same way the U.S. colonized the Philippines.
Even then, you still say Japan was wrong.
Does that mean you simply cannot tolerate Japan having a colony?
Do you believe that possessing colonies is a privilege reserved for white people?”

He turned bright red, shouted a four-letter word at me, and walked off somewhere.

This chapter continues.