TOKYO, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Japan on Saturday strongly condemned Japan's latest negative moves concerning the war-linked Yasukuni Shrine, after Japanese leaders sent ritual offerings to the shrine and some cabinet members and lawmakers visited it.
Japan launched wars of aggression against other countries and regions during World War II and committed heinous crimes, the spokesperson said in response to media inquiries.
The so-called Yasukuni Shrine enshrines 14 Class-A war criminals directly responsible for the wars of aggression and is a spiritual tool and symbol of Japanese militarism, the spokesperson said.
No matter what excuses Japanese officials make for paying homage to the shrine, they cannot conceal their true intentions of rehabilitating war criminals, covering up wartime crimes, distorting historical facts and paving the way for accelerating Japan's remilitarization, the spokesperson said.
Such erroneous acts desecrate historical justice, challenge the bottom line of human civilization and constitute a provocation to the postwar international order, drawing firm opposition from the international community, the spokesperson added.
Noting that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the opening of the Tokyo Trials, the spokesperson said that a correct understanding of and attitude toward history are essential for Japan's return to the international community after the war, constitute a political foundation for its relations with neighboring countries, and serve as a yardstick for assessing whether Japan honors its commitment to peaceful development.
China solemnly urges Japan to deeply reflect on its history of aggression, face up to its wartime crimes, exercise prudence in words and deeds on issues concerning the Yasukuni Shrine, and completely break with militarism, the spokesperson said, calling on the Japanese side to win the trust of its Asian neighbors and the international community through concrete actions. ■
