China is sharing evidence of Japan’s war crimes during World War Two in the northwest province of Jilin. 

An international academic symposium was held in Beijing on Monday. The Jilin Provincial Archives invited historians and researchers from Japan, Australia, South Korea, Russia and Austria to study the latest research on documents left behind by Japan’s Kwantung Army.

The evidence being shared with international researchers is the study of reports of censorship on letters and newspapers in Northeast China during World War Two. Many of the letters were written by ordinary Japanese soldiers to their families.

"This marks an expansion of our work in studying and translating the documents. This is also the first time we exchange our studies with international experts," Jilin Provincial Archives Deputy Director Mu Zhanyi said.

It is estimated that the Jilin Provincial Archives contain 10,000 such documents. The latest research is all recorded in this two volume book.

"I think this book has provided some very hard evidence, for those people in Japan who are trying to distort the truth of history; this book will surely upset them. I have already blogged it, but under the current situation, I don’t think the media in Japan will cover news about the book or the evidence," political commentator Jiro Honzawa said.

All the experts were given Honzawa’s new book. Many say they will use it for further study. The next step will be sharing the archives with international researchers.