🕊️ China is calling on Japan to face its history and promote peace after Japanese leaders paid respects at the controversial Yasukuni Shrine.
On Thursday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry expressed concern over recent actions by Japanese officials, urging Japan to \"make a clean break with militarism\" and embrace peaceful development.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida made a \"tamaguchi\" ritual offering at the Yasukuni Shrine in his capacity as President of the Liberal Democratic Party. High-profile cabinet members, including Defense Minister Minoru Kihara and Minister of Regional Revitalization Yoshitaka Shindo, along with members of the National Diet, also visited the shrine.
The Yasukuni Shrine honors millions of Japanese war dead, including World War II Class-A war criminals. Visits by Japanese leaders often spark reactions from neighboring countries, who view it as a symbol of Japan's past militarism.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian highlighted that 78 years ago, Japan accepted the Potsdam Proclamation and announced its unconditional surrender. \"The Chinese people, together with the people of the world, defeated the Japanese militarist aggressors and fascism,\" Lin said. \"This great victory, a historic moment, deserves to be remembered by the world.\"
Lin criticized the shrine visits, stating they reveal an \"erroneous attitude toward historical issues.\" He emphasized that acknowledging and reflecting on past aggression is key for Japan to build trust and cooperation with its Asian neighbors.
\"We emphasize the need to remember the lessons of history not to continue hatred but to use history as a mirror, uphold peace, and look to the future,\" Lin noted. China urges Japan to take concrete actions to earn the trust of Asian nations and the international community.
🌏 As the world moves forward, the call is clear: learning from the past is essential to building a peaceful future.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
