Japan should face up to history squarely: Spanish expert

Japan should face up to history squarely, instead of whitewashing the war crimes it committed, said a Spanish professor of international relations refuting Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's erroneous remarks on China's Taiwan region.

Professor Javier Porras said in an interview with China Central Television (CCTV) that in Japan, it is a very terrifying phenomenon of historical revisionism to whitewash wartime crimes.

Japan must deplore its war past and draw lessons from it to ensure that historical tragedies do not recur, he said.

"It's meaningless for Japan to fabricate and revise history. This approach does not mean that historical facts can be fabricated or distorted, especially the conflicts that took place in the first half of the 20th century. These conflicts undoubtedly brought disasters and destruction to the world, especially in the Asia-Pacific region," said Porras.

He said the Taiwan question must refer to the relevant resolutions of the United Nations. Taiwan is universally recognized as part of the territory of the People's Republic of China.

"As for the Taiwan question, it should always be based on the relevant resolutions of the United Nations. Taiwan has always been regarded as the territory of the People's Republic of China. Making contrary remarks will only create and trigger unnecessary conflicts," Porras said.

Japan should face up to history squarely: Spanish expert

Japan should face up to history squarely: Spanish expert

More than 1,000 demonstrators took to the street in downtown Los Angeles on Saturday to protest against the fatal shooting of a 37-year-old woman by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in Minnesota earlier this week, as well as U.S. military intervention in Venezuela.

"And the brutality of ICE to shoot a woman in the head three times is appalling. And why we're allowing that, why is this happening in the United States? It's unbelievable. They're not taking just undocumented immigrants. They're taking everybody and they're asking questions later," said a protester who was only identified as Jonelle.

"[U.S. military striking on] Venezuela was completely wrong, completely wrong. Constitutionally, he had no right to do that. And the fact that the oil companies knew what he was going to do before even Congress or the military knew, just tells you everything you need to know," noted another protester, who was only named as Erin.

Analysts pointed out the protests reflect strong dissatisfaction among the U.S. public with the government's handling of both domestic affairs and foreign policy at present.

Renee Nicole Good, 37, was shot dead on Wednesday by an agent of the ICE. The killing sparked outrage in the Democratic-led state and beyond, triggering protests and vigils aimed at ICE and federal immigration policy.

Protests erupt in Los Angeles against ICE, U.S. actions in Venezuela