博客

In a devastating blow to polar exploration, Chinese sailor Zhai Mo’s historic Antarctic circumnavigation attempt has been abruptly suspended following a brutal attack on his vessel while anchored in Papua New Guinea waters. The incident, which occurred despite prior security assurances from local authorities, has left the expedition’s sailing craft completely unseaworthy and forced an indefinite postponement of the ambitious 36,000-nautical-mile journey.

The assault on ‘Zhai Mo No 1’ represents more than mere vandalism—it constitutes a systematic dismantling of the vessel’s operational capabilities. Upon returning from a mandatory customs clearance procedure in the capital city, Captain Zhai and his five crew members discovered their ship ransacked with critical navigation systems, engines, generators, and life-saving equipment either stolen or deliberately destroyed. In a particularly malicious act, perpetrators opened the vessel’s bottom valves, causing extensive flooding throughout all compartments.

This expedition, which embarked from Shanghai’s Bailianjing wharf on October 10, aimed to achieve humanity’s first complete circumnavigation of Antarctica along the Antarctic Circle while promoting polar ecological conservation and maritime culture. The vessel had previously completed a successful Arctic Ocean circumnavigation, making its current state of disrepair particularly tragic.

While local law enforcement has intercepted one boat involved in the raid and recovered some stolen equipment, multiple perpetrators remain at large with investigations ongoing. The Chinese embassy in Papua New Guinea has activated emergency protocols, coordinating with local authorities and the Chinese community to provide assistance to the stranded crew members, all of whom are confirmed safe despite the traumatic experience.

The incident raises significant questions about maritime security in remote waters and represents a substantial setback for international polar exploration efforts. The team must now reevaluate their entire Antarctic mission while assessing whether the extensive damage to their vessel and equipment can be overcome for future expeditions.

In a significant development for historical documentation, the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders has publicly revealed thirteen previously undisclosed sets of cultural artifacts and archival materials. This revelation coincides with the 88th anniversary commemorations of the tragic events that unfolded in Nanjing during 1937-1938.

The comprehensive collection includes multiple categories of evidentiary materials: personal correspondence from Japanese military personnel, photographic documentation of post-occupation Nanjing, archival records of a Chinese military physician killed during the defense operations, an Imperial Japanese Army photographic album, and international publications in English and French detailing wartime atrocities.

Among the most compelling evidence are two letters written by Japanese soldiers that provide firsthand perpetrator accounts of systematic executions. One particularly disturbing document, dated January 8, 1938, describes in graphic detail the daily execution of Chinese prisoners at a riverside location, with bodies disposed of in the Yangtze River. The soldier’s casual description of these acts as ‘very interesting’ and ‘so satisfying’ offers chilling insight into the psychological mindset of the perpetrators.

Historical researchers have verified the authenticity of these documents through cross-referencing with previously published materials, including address information matching records in Japanese historical publications. According to Wang Weixing, research fellow at the Jiangsu Provincial Academy of Social Sciences, these letters constitute ‘ironclad evidence’ of Japanese military operations during the massacre period.

The collection also features eight photographic images donated by Chinese citizens from Henan province, documenting key locations and events during the occupation period. These include images of architectural damage from artillery bombardment, the Japanese military’s formal entry ceremony, and engineering operations conducted during the siege.

International perspectives are represented through publications including the November 22, 1938 edition of American magazine LOOK, which featured a exposé titled ‘Killing for Fun’ with photographic evidence of Japanese military conduct. Additional evidentiary value comes from French and English publications that document demographic information contradicting revisionist claims about Nanjing’s population at the time of occupation.

Academic experts emphasize that these materials provide crucial third-party verification of historical events, particularly significant given ongoing attempts by certain factions to deny or minimize the scale of atrocities. The evidence directly counters arguments regarding population figures that have been used to question the established historical record.

The memorial hall’s expanded collection strengthens the historical narrative through multiple evidentiary streams, ensuring that the memory of victims is preserved with factual accuracy and that future generations may access comprehensive documentation of these historical events.