BEIJING, April 21 (Xinhua) -- China firmly opposes and strongly condemns Japan's latest negative moves related to Yasukuni Shrine and has lodged strong representations and protests with the Japanese side, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said here on Tuesday.
Spokesperson Guo Jiakun made the remarks at a daily press briefing, after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Tuesday sent a ritual offering to the notorious Yasukuni Shrine, a symbol of Japanese militarism and wartime aggression.
The Yasukuni Shrine is a spiritual tool and symbol of Japanese militarists responsible for the war of aggression. It is in fact a shrine for war criminals, noted Guo.
Japan's negative moves related to the Yasukuni war shrine is in nature an attempt to evade war responsibilities, an affront to justice, a provocation against Japan's war victims, and a challenge to the outcome of WWII victory, said Guo, adding such moves have been widely condemned and firmly rejected by the international community.
Guo said Japan must do serious soul-searching. "Will it continue to let the spector of militarism spread, distort historical facts and whitewash its crimes during the war of aggression? Or will it deeply and sincerely reflect on its war crimes, foster a right view of history, and earn trust from its Asian neighbors and the international community?"
He put forward the questions that with massive increase in military budget, the deployment of intermediate-range offensive missiles, relaxed restrictions on weapon export, proposed revision of its pacifist Constitution and the idea of abandoning the three non-nuclear principles, how can Japan profess itself as a "peace-loving country" and what's Japan really up to.
What Japan needs to see clearly is that all peace-loving forces for justice in the world will never allow neo-militarism to spread and threaten regional peace, and will instead make a firm response, he added.
"Amnesia of history means betrayal, and denial of responsibility spells repetition of crimes," said Guo. The international community needs to be vigilant against Japan's historical revisionism, stand firmly against its neo-militarist tendencies and work together to keep the region and the world peaceful and stable, he added. ■
