China denounces massacre denial
Source: Xinhua/Shanghai Daily |
February 23, 2012, Thursday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
China has denounced a Japanese mayor's denial of the Nanjing Massacre by Japanese troops and is supporting a decision by Nanjing to suspend inter-government contacts with the Japanese city of Nagoya.
Kawamura Takashi, mayor of Nagoya, said the Nanjing Massacre "probably never happened" during a meeting with a delegation from Nanjing, a city that witnessed mass murder, genocide and rape following a Japanese invasion in 1937.
In a meeting with the Japanese Foreign Ministry's Director General for Asian and Oceanian Affairs Sugiyama Shinsuke, Luo Zhaohui, head of the Foreign Ministry's Asian affairs department, said the mayor's statement distorted historical facts and seriously hurt the Chinese people's feelings.
The Nanjing Massacre was an atrocity committed by the Japanese military as part of a war of aggression against China, Luo said, adding that the international community had long reached its conclusion on the matter.
Sugiyama said the mayor's statement was a "personal opinion" and did not represent the Japanese government's position. The Japanese government had not changed its stance on historical issues, he said.
Sugiyama said Japan was sincerely apologetic and determined to adhere to a path of peaceful development.
At the Monday meeting Kawamura said: "The casualties in the war were normal. China shouldn't falsely claim that 300,000 people were dead in Nanjing in 1937," according to Japan's Sankei Shimbun newspaper.
Japanese mayor condemned
The director of the Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall soon published a protest letter, saying "it is utterly shocking" to hear a descendant of the Japanese invaders deny the atrocities of the Nanjing Massacre.
The Nanjing city government also strongly condemned Kawamura.
"The historical facts of the Nanjing Massacre have been solidly proven. The claim by Kawamura is extremely irresponsible," it said in a statement.
There was also outrage over Liu Zhiwei, a senior Party official in charge of legal affairs of Nanjing, who led the delegation and was present at the Monday meeting. Liu showed no anger and responded: "Nanjing people adore peace," according to Sankei Shimbun.
The Nanjing Massacre began in December 1937, when Japanese troops occupied the city, China's capital at the time.
More than 300,000 Chinese were murdered or raped by the invading Japanese.
China has lodged representations with Japan over the mayor's denial of the massacre, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said yesterday.
Asked whether the incident would have any impact on China-Japan relations, Hong said the Chinese government supported the decision by Nanjing municipal authorities to halt contact with Nagoya.
Hong said the Chinese side had made its stance clear regarding the incident. The Nanjing Massacre was a proven atrocity recognized by the international community, Hong said.
Nanjing and Nagoya established sister-city ties in 1978.
Kawamura Takashi, mayor of Nagoya, said the Nanjing Massacre "probably never happened" during a meeting with a delegation from Nanjing, a city that witnessed mass murder, genocide and rape following a Japanese invasion in 1937.
In a meeting with the Japanese Foreign Ministry's Director General for Asian and Oceanian Affairs Sugiyama Shinsuke, Luo Zhaohui, head of the Foreign Ministry's Asian affairs department, said the mayor's statement distorted historical facts and seriously hurt the Chinese people's feelings.
The Nanjing Massacre was an atrocity committed by the Japanese military as part of a war of aggression against China, Luo said, adding that the international community had long reached its conclusion on the matter.
Sugiyama said the mayor's statement was a "personal opinion" and did not represent the Japanese government's position. The Japanese government had not changed its stance on historical issues, he said.
Sugiyama said Japan was sincerely apologetic and determined to adhere to a path of peaceful development.
At the Monday meeting Kawamura said: "The casualties in the war were normal. China shouldn't falsely claim that 300,000 people were dead in Nanjing in 1937," according to Japan's Sankei Shimbun newspaper.
Japanese mayor condemned
The director of the Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall soon published a protest letter, saying "it is utterly shocking" to hear a descendant of the Japanese invaders deny the atrocities of the Nanjing Massacre.
The Nanjing city government also strongly condemned Kawamura.
"The historical facts of the Nanjing Massacre have been solidly proven. The claim by Kawamura is extremely irresponsible," it said in a statement.
There was also outrage over Liu Zhiwei, a senior Party official in charge of legal affairs of Nanjing, who led the delegation and was present at the Monday meeting. Liu showed no anger and responded: "Nanjing people adore peace," according to Sankei Shimbun.
The Nanjing Massacre began in December 1937, when Japanese troops occupied the city, China's capital at the time.
More than 300,000 Chinese were murdered or raped by the invading Japanese.
China has lodged representations with Japan over the mayor's denial of the massacre, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said yesterday.
Asked whether the incident would have any impact on China-Japan relations, Hong said the Chinese government supported the decision by Nanjing municipal authorities to halt contact with Nagoya.
Hong said the Chinese side had made its stance clear regarding the incident. The Nanjing Massacre was a proven atrocity recognized by the international community, Hong said.
Nanjing and Nagoya established sister-city ties in 1978.
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