Foreign Ministry: The Japanese side should squarely face up to and profoundly reflect on the history of aggression

Beijing, 7 Dec (Xinhua) -- In response to nearly 100 Japanese parliamentarians paying a collective visit to the Yasukuni Shrine, Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said on 7 December that the Chinese side resolutely opposes this, and that the Japanese side should squarely face up to and profoundly reflect on the history of aggression, draw a clear line with militarism, and win the trust of its Asian neighbors and the international community with practical actions.

At a regular news conference on the same day, a reporter asked: According to reports, including 9 vice-ministerial-level government officials, 99 members of Japan's cross-party parliamentary group "everyone came to pay respects to the Yasukuni Shrine Congress members' meeting" on 7 July. What is China's comment on this?

Zhao Lijian said that on December 7, 80 years ago, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor and launched the Pacific War. It is no accident that a large number of Japanese political leaders have chosen this day to pay high-profile visits to the Yasukuni Shrine, and I am afraid that it is deliberately and deliberately provocative. "The war history museum in the Yasukuni Shrine claimed that the Pearl Harbor incident was a conspiracy by the United States to pull Japan into the trap of war, and Japan was forced to launch a 'war of self-defense' only when it was helpless. What is the intention of Japanese politicians to brag about the yasukuni shrine on this special day? ”

Zhao Lijian said that the Yasukuni Shrine is a spiritual tool and symbol of Japanese militarism in launching a war of aggression against foreign countries, and enshrines 14 World War II Class A war criminals. The visit of Japanese dignitaries to the Yasukuni Shrine once again reflects the japanese side's erroneous attitude of not thinking about the history of aggression, and the Chinese side firmly opposes this. The Japanese side should scrupulously abide by the principles of the four political documents between China and Japan, squarely face up to and profoundly reflect on the history of aggression, draw a clear line with militarism, and win the trust of its Asian neighbors and the international community with practical actions.