BEIJING, Dec. 28 (Xinhuanet) -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe claims his controversial visit to the war-linked Yasukuni Shrine was a personal visit to pay tribute to Japanese soldiers who died during World War Two. He added it was not designed to hurt the feelings of China and South Korea, both victims of Japanese wartime aggression.
China was quick to respond. At a daily news briefing on Friday, the country’s foreign ministry denounced Abe’s excuse as weak, pointing to past remarks he’d made, where he questioned the term "invasion" in relation to Japan’s wartime expansion. China says Tokyo’s recent increase in defense spending has sparked fears about the direction Abe wishes to take Japan into.
The ministry spokesperson concluded by saying the Japanese prime minister’s view of history was doing nothing to promote peace in the region.
"A just cause enjoys abundant support, while an unjust one finds little. The Japanese leader must face history and develop relations with other Asian countries, or else it would continue to head in the wrong direction. The choice is his," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying.
"If he insists on challenging international justice and human conscience, and challenging relations with his neighbors, then we will fight it to the end."
(Source: CNTV.cn)
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