An excavation in Taiwan searches for remains of Japanese soldiers lost in WWII ship sinking
Summary
Volunteers in southern Taiwan have begun an excavation to find the remains of Japanese soldiers who died during World War II when their ships were sunk in the Bashi Channel by U.S. forces in 1944. The goal is to recover bodies washed ashore and, if possible, identify them through DNA testing for return to Japan.Key Facts
- The excavation is taking place in Hengchun Township, Pingtung County, southern Taiwan.
- The operation aims to recover remains from Japanese military ships sunk in 1944 by U.S. forces in the Bashi Channel.
- Over 4,700 Japanese soldiers and crew died in the sinking, while 65 survived.
- Japan ruled Taiwan as a colony from 1895 until the end of World War II in 1945.
- Many bodies from the sunken ships are believed to have reached the shore near the excavation site.
- Japan enacted a law in 2016 to speed up the recovery and identification of war remains, extending the effort through 2030 with improved DNA testing.
- Around 15,600 Japanese soldiers who died in Taiwan remain missing; about 26,300 bodies have been recovered previously.
- The last excavation in Taiwan was in 1975, recovering 242 bodies.
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