BEIJING, June 21 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Qin Gang on Thursday criticized Japanese dietmen's denial and cover-up of the Nanjing Massacre.

    Qin made the remarks at a regular press conference on Thursday afternoon when asked to comment on the Japanese dietmen's denial of the massacre in a report released on June 19, saying their attempts to obliterate or conceal the historic facts including the Nanjing Massacre would put them under international condemnation.

    He said the Nanjing Massacre was the brutality committed by the Japanese militarists during their invasion to China (1937 to 1945)and has ironclad evidence, adding that the international community had long before had a verdict on the Japanese troops' crime.

    Qin noted those who tried to blot off the massacre lack correct values on history as well as courage to see squarely of history.

    He said this year marks the 70th anniversary of the Nanjing Massacre, stressing that China hoped Japan take up a responsible attitude in handling history issues including the Nanjing Massacre and comfort women issues.

    The massacre occurred in December 1937 when Japanese troops occupied Nanjing, then capital of China. More than 300,000 Chinese were killed, one third of the city's buildings were burned and more than 20,000 women were raped in eight weeks.