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China sends a strong message to Japan over its recent historical and territorial claims,...
designating two national days that highlight the wrongs committed by Japan during World
War Two. For more on this story, we turn to our Park
Ji-won. Amid continued tensions in Northeast Asia over historical and territorial issues,...
China's Standing Committee of the National People's Congress has designated two national
days to highlight Japanese aggressions during the Second World War.
The Chinese government singled out September 3rd as "Victory Day in the War Against Japanese
Aggression" to coincide with Japan's surrender to the allied forces in the Second World War
on September 2nd, 1945. China also designated December 13th as a "Day
to Remember Victims of the Nanjing Massacre." Japanese forces captured the Chinese city
of Nanjing on December 13, 1937 and for a six-week period carried out crimes against
humanity on the city's citizens. The estimated number of people killed by Japanese
troops during the incident ranges from 40-thousand to over 300-thousand.
The Chinese foreign ministry said,... the days show that the Chinese government is determined
about its national sovereignty, territorial stability... and its opposition against any
aggressive wars. It also sends a strong message to Japan,...
that any attempts to challenge the post-Second-World War order,... by denying the nature of Japanese
aggressions,... will never be tolerated. The ministry also warned about the resurgence
of Japanese militarism,... and called for Japanese leaders to take a responsible approach
towards the matters of history. Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide
Suga said Friday,... that the government will be setting up a special investigative team
to re-examine the 1993 Kono Statement,... which apologized to sex slaves during the
Second World War,... and acknowledged that Japanese forces were responsible.
Despite criticisms within Japan, such as from former Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama that
such a re-examination will rile up neighboring countries like South Korea,... the Japanese
government has apparently decided to move ahead with the plans.
Park Ji-won, Arirang News.