China's Defense Ministry on Thursday said that relevant countries should not forget the lessons from the painful history of being invaded by Japan.
The remarks were made by Zhang Xiaogang, spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense, in response to Japan Self-Defense Forces' participation in this year's U.S.-Philippines Exercise Balikatan, which triggered protest by Philippine WWII victim associations and civil society groups.
"Like many of you, I understand the feelings of the Philippine people concerning this year's Balikatan military exercise. During World War II, Japanese aggressors committed numerous crimes in the Philippines, including the Manila Massacre and the forced recruitment of 'comfort women'. In addition, there was the Bataan Death March, which, together with the Nanjing Massacre and the Burma-Thailand Death Railway, are known as the three major war atrocities in the Far East," said Zhang.
"In April 1942, the Japanese military captured the Bataan Peninsula. Around 78,000 American and Philippine troops that had already surrendered were systematically abused. They were forced to trek 120 kilometers to Camp O'Donnell, and 15,000 died miserably. To this day, the perpetrators of those atrocities have not shown genuine remorse for their crimes. How could this historical trauma be healed? Relevant countries should not forget the lessons from the painful history. They need to listen to the voice of the people, and should stop stoking division and confrontation, so as to maintain peace and tranquility in the Asia-Pacific by jointly thwart Japan's 'neomilitarism'," he said.
The military exercises, named "Balikatan", which means "shoulder-to-shoulder", involve over 17,000 personnel from seven countries, including Australia, Canada, France, Japan, and New Zealand, and will run until May 8.
Relevant countries should not forget history of being invaded by Japan: spokesman
