The refusal of Japanese Prime Mininster Shinzo Abe to apologize to his country's neighbors for atrocities committed by the Japanese during World War iII was criticized by China on Tuesday.
"Abe's words revealed the Japanese leader's wrong conception of history and lack of sincerity in facing up to that history," was the reply of Hua Chunying, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman when asked about the Japanese prime minister's comments that his country cannot do what Germany had done in addressing atrocities committed during the last world war.
Hua further commented that there seems to be an ever-present political force in Japan that always endeavors to reject or even exalt its wartime show of aggression and colonial rule and to refuse to accept the decision of the Far East International Military Tribune.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman likewise brought up the controversial visit of the Prime Miniister Abe to the Yasukuni Shrine which pays tribute to war criminals and Japan's involvement in territorial disputes with its neighbors which is intensifying tension in the region.
Hua said that Japan's wrong words and deeds are a major hindrance in the reconciliation and establishment of cooperation between Japan and its neighbors.
Hua strongly advised the Japanese leader and the government of Japan to make a delineation between themselves and militarism.
"This is the political foundation for Japan to rebuild and develop ties with its neighbors, the principle and spirit of the normalization of China-Japan ties, and the four political documents between the countries," Hua said.
Hua called on Japan to correct the mistakes they have committed with visible actions so as to gain the trust of its neighboring countries as well as of the international community. Hua added that this is the only right path that Japan must take.