FM spokeswoman on Japanese history textbook
( 2001-07-09 22:02 ) (8 )

China has expressed strong resentment over the Japanese government's latest decision not to revise a textbook that whitewashes Japan's history of aggression, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

"China is extremely regretful for and strongly dissatisfied with the Japanese government's decision, and has made solemn representations with the Japanese side," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue said Monday.

The so-called textbook, compiled by Japanese right-wing forces, attempts to gloss over and deny the invasions launched by Japanese imperialists, Zhang said, adding that everyone knows the book contains fallacies.

Zhang described the Japanese government's decision as being obvious biased in favor of the right-wing forces and having deviated from its previous commitments on historical issues, which the Chinese side cannot accept.

With the decision, Japan has once again lost credibility with the Asian people on historical issues, and this has also harmed Japan's international image, the spokeswoman said.

"We demand the Japanese side pay sincere attention to the appeal of Asian nations suffering from the war, and to take practical action to properly handle the textbook issue," she said.

It is learned that this morning, the Japanese side notified the Chinese side through diplomatic channels that it will not make further revisions of the textbook compiled by the right-wing forces.

The Japanese side made clear that the views on history presented in the book do not conform with Japanese government's position and do not represent the opinions of all Japanese people.

On the history issue, the Japanese government expressed its basic view in the remarks made by the former Japanese prime minister Tomiichi Murayama in 1995 and the Japan-China Joint Declaration in 1998, that is, Japan felt responsible for the damage done to the Chinese people by past Japanese aggression against China, Japan expressed its deep remorse for it, and this view will not change.

Officials of the Chinese Foreign Ministry said that correct understanding and treatment of that period of history constitute an important political basis for the development of Sino-Japanese relations.

The Chinese side has taken note of the Japanese government's attitude towards the history issue, and will, however, pay attention to the actions the Japanese side in the future, the officials said.