Uncovering Scott Tong's grandfather's story, a hidden family history brought to light

Scott Tong investigates the suppressed history of his grandfather, Carlton Sun, who died in a Chinese labor camp after being convicted of collaborating with Japanese occupiers during World War II. Historian Pochek Fu argues that such wartime decisions were often driven by survival and necessity rather than political ideology, challenging the rigid narrative of treason. The account details the brutal reality of China’s Soviet-inspired labor camps through the testimony of survivor An Dianxiang, who describes extreme starvation and forced labor. Despite the millions of families affected by 20th-century upheavals, these stories remain largely unacknowledged in modern China due to political sensitivities and a generational desire to shield descendants from trauma. This investigation highlights the tension between official historical narratives and the complex, often painful realities of individual family legacies during China's tumultuous transition to Communism.