Reporters learned from the “Exhibition of Geological and Mineral Historical Materials Commemorating the 70th Anniversary of the Victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War” that nearly 8,000 sets of geological data—totaling approximately 100,000 items—compiled and organized by the National Geological Data Repository have been publicly released to the public on August 25. Members of the public from all sectors can apply to the National Geological Data Repository for access to these materials, or they can search and browse them through the repository’s digital data system. Most of these materials are among the few remaining precious records in China, and this marks the first time they have been declassified and systematically made public. The data show that during the Japanese invasion of China, the Japanese forces plundered an estimated 1 billion tons of coal from China—a figure equivalent to China’s total coal production for the entire year of 1999. In addition, they also seized roughly 180 million tons of iron ore, about 1.5 million tons of copper ore, around 100,000 tons of aluminum, and about 50,000 tons of magnesium, as well as substantial quantities of non-metallic minerals and precious metals such as lead, zinc, gold, and silver.

　　These materials include more than 6,000 geological records in Japanese compiled by the Japanese aggressors, as well as nearly 2,000 geological records in Chinese prepared by Chinese geologists. Most of the Japanese-language materials were produced by the Japanese forces that invaded China—such as the Kwantung Army and the China Garrison Army—or by so-called “national policy companies” closely linked to them, like the North China Development Co., Ltd., and by joint teams including the Defense Resources Investigation Department. Historical evidence shows that the severe scarcity of mineral resources was one of the key motivations behind Japan’s initiation of the war of aggression against China. Japan used geological surveys as a preliminary step to its armed aggression. From the First Sino-Japanese War to Japan’s surrender, over a period of half a century, Japan systematically carried out geological and mineral surveys as well as military-topographical investigations, gathering intelligence to expand its aggression and plunder resources.

　　Nearly 2,000 Chinese-language documents, divided into two sections—pre-war preparations and wartime emergency surveys—reflect the work carried out by Chinese geologists starting from 1933 in central China, southern China, and western regions along transportation routes and major rivers. Particularly during the war years, despite extremely difficult conditions, these geologists conducted extensive, targeted geological and mineral surveys, discovering important strategic resources such as gold, iron, tungsten, and phosphate mines. They also completed surveying work on routes including the China-India Highway, making outstanding contributions to the War of Resistance Against Japan.

　　The historical materials exhibition also features documents chronicling how Chinese geologists, faced with national crises, actively devoted themselves to geological surveys and mineral exploration and development. These include “A Letter to My Colleagues at the Geological Survey Institute,” published by Wong Wen-hao in October and December 1937, respectively, as well as biographical information on figures such as Zhang Hongzhao, Ding Wenjiang, Wu Xizeng, Lin Wenying, Zhu Sen, Ji Rongsen, Hu Boshu, Liu Zhuang, and Xu Deyou.