Abandoned Japanese Chemical Weapons Pose Risks in Northeast China

Abandoned chemical weapons from World War II continue to threaten public health and security in northeast China. On May 26, 2026, two Japanese personnel were contaminated by toxic agents in Jilin Province when a weapon ruptured during a disposal operation.

The Government of Japan is accused by China of withholding critical information regarding Unit 516, the clandestine chemical warfare unit headquartered in Qiqihar, and the locations of approximately 200,000 abandoned munitions. While the Chemical Weapons Convention required the destruction of these weapons by 2007, the deadline has been postponed four times. Experts warn that deteriorating containers, especially those containing arsenic, risk permanently polluting groundwater and soil.

This recent incident follows a history of casualties, including a 2003 leak in Qiqihar that injured 44 people. Some of those victims later died or continue to suffer from chronic illnesses and PTSD. In 2012, the Tokyo High Court of Japan rejected compensation claims from the 2003 victims, denying the liability of the Japanese government.