China hits out at Japanese claims that Li's remarks 'ignored history'
Source: Xinhua |
May 29, 2013, Wednesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
CHINESE foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei has hit back at a Japanese politician's remarks that a speech by Premier Li Keqiang in Germany "ignored history."
On Sunday, Li visited Cecilienhof Palace in Potsdam, capital of the German federal state of Brandenburg, the site of the Potsdam Proclamation in 1945 which set the terms for Japan's surrender in World War II.
The premier said that all territories Japan stole from China, such as Northeast China, Taiwan and related islands, should be restored to China.
On Monday, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga rejected Li's claim, saying: "That remark ignores history. (Japan) can never accept it."
Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who is in Berlin accompanying Premier Li on his trip to Europe, has stated China's position on Suga's remarks, said Hong.
Hong reiterated that Japanese militarists launched an aggressive war against China and illegally occupied and stole Chinese territories, including Taiwan and its affiliated islands.
"These historical facts should not be obliterated," he said.
In 1945, Japan announced its acceptance of the Potsdam Proclamation as well as its unconditional surrender.
Article 8 of the Potsdam Declaration makes it clear that the terms of the Cairo Declaration shall be carried out, he said.
In December 1943, leaders of the United States, Britain and China signed the Cairo Declaration, declaring that all the territories Japan had seized from China should be returned, he added.
In the China-Japan Joint Statement issued in 1972, the Japanese government also promised to implement Article 8 of the Potsdam Declaration.
"These are unmistakable historical facts," Hong said.
He asked the Japanese side to face history squarely, clarify and correct relevant statements and never again make remarks that lack common sense.
Chinese Ambassador to Japan Cheng Yonghua yesterday also urged Japan to face up to the past to improve ties with neighboring countries.
Cheng made the remarks in an interview with Xinhua news agency on Suga's comments.
Cheng also asked that Japan look squarely at history and cope with relevant issues with proper manners so as to better develop its relations with neighboring Asian countries.
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