Japanese militarism is the enemy of people worldwide, Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said at a press briefing in Beijing on Friday.
Guo made the remarks in response to a media inquiry about the 12th national memorial day for Nanjing Massacre victims which falls on Dec 13.
This year marks the 88th anniversary of the Nanjing Massacre. In accordance with the decision ratified by the National People's Congress, China will host the annual national memorial commemoration for the victims of the Nanjing Massacre to honor those who lost their lives, he said. "The massacre in Nanjing is a horrendous crime committed by Japanese militarists. There is no room for denial. The slaughter of 300,000 Chinese people forms the darkest page in human history. Japanese militarists’ war of aggression against China and other Asian countries under the pretext of the so-called 'survival-threatening situation' and untold crimes against humanity are nothing but a disgrace in the history of human civilization. International legal instruments, including the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation, clearly stated the opposition against aggression, the punishment of war criminals and elimination of militarism. The International Military Tribunal for the Far East was established by the Allied Nations for the trial of Japanese war criminals," he said.
"However, the Japanese government has long abetted the right-wing forces’ retrogressive moves. Several prime ministers and political dignitaries have paid tribute to the Yasukuni Shrine where class-A war criminals are honored. Some politicians have publicly called into question the Murayama Statement which showed reflection on and apologies for Japan's colonial rule and aggression. The Japanese side even attempted to whitewash its war crimes and change the verdict on its history of aggression by revising textbooks more than once. Those egregious moves constitute a blatant challenge to the post-war international order and an affront to human conscience. This triggered strong indignation and vigilance in the international community," Guo said.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War as well as China's recovery of Taiwan, he noted.
Eighty years ago, the Chinese people, after heroic and strenuous fighting, defeated Japanese militarism, recovered the territories, including Taiwan, stolen by Japanese aggressors, defended national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and upheld international fairness and justice. Eighty years on, the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is unstoppable, he said.
"China will never allow Japan's right-wing forces to turn back the wheel of history, never allow external forces to lay their hands on China's Taiwan region, and never allow the resurgence of Japan's militarism. Japanese militarism is the enemy of people worldwide. China will work with all peace-loving countries and people to jointly safeguard the outcomes of World War II victory and the post-war international order. We urge the Japanese side to deeply reflect on and learn from history, make a clean break with militarism, and take concrete actions to get rid of the specter of militarism that still haunts it," Guo said.
Japanese militarism enemy of people worldwide: spokesman
