China's Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi met with Japanese
Ambassador to China Koreshige Anami Thursday and expounded China's
solemn stand to the Japanese side on the Yasukuni Shrine issue.
Wang said the shrine, which houses the memorial tablets of Class-A
war criminals, is a symbol of Japan's aggression in contemporary
history.
Therefore, how the Japanese side handles the visit to the shrine is
not only an internal issue of Japan, but a touchstone of the
Japanese government's attitude towards the history of aggression.
It is also directly connected to the feelings of the people of
China and other countries which were victims of Japanese
aggression.
As
the biggest victim nation of the aggressive war launched by
Japanese militarists, China is obviously opposed to any form of
visit to the shrine by the leader of the Japanese government, Wang
stressed.
The vice-minister noted that the new Japanese cabinet has
reiterated that the Japanese government will continue to hold the
stance of acknowledging and making self-reflection on the history
of aggression. It has also said it will strengthen coordination
internationally and develop relations with neighboring nations.
However, a series of speeches made by the Japanese side on visiting
the Yasukuni Shrine go against its aforementioned statement, and
constitute a defiance and challenge to the feelings of people in
victim countries, Wang said.
By
doing this, the Japanese side can only damage its own image
internationally, and once again lose the trust of the people in
Asia on the history issue.
Wang said the Chinese government and people pay great attention to
developing relations with Japan. The current Sino-Japanese friendly
relations were not easily developed, for which several generations
of the two peoples have made great efforts.
The plans of the Japanese side would be an explicit undermining of
the political basis of Sino-Japanese relations, and therefore a
dangerous move that would bring a severe negative impact on
Sino-Japanese relations, Wang said.
China once again solemnly asks the Japanese side to take a
responsible attitude towards the overall situation of Sino-
Japanese relations, abide by the Sino-Japanese joint statement, the
Sino-Japanese Treaty of Peace and Friendship and principles of the
Sino-Japanese Joint Declaration.
The Japanese side should think before it leaps, and carefully
handle serious problems in bilateral relations including the visit
to the Yasukuni Shrine, Wang stressed.
(Xinhua 05/17/2001)