China urges Japan to take responsibility for its abandoned chemical weapons

China urged Japan on Thursday to provide effective information on burial sites of the abandoned chemical weapons in China as soon as possible, speed up the disposal process, and eliminate the hazards posed by these weapons at an early date.

Thursday marks the 27th anniversary of the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the governments of China and Japan on the destruction of the chemical weapons abandoned by Japan in China. 

Under the agreement, Japan should have completed the destruction by 2007, but it has demonstrated insufficient sincerity and inadequate commitment in fulfilling its obligations, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told a daily news conference.

The implementation of the destruction plan has already missed its deadlines four times, Mao said, adding that the destruction process is seriously delayed and safety hazards remain.

The complete destruction of Japan's abandoned chemical weapons is the country's unshakable historical, political, and legal responsibility, she said, urging Tokyo to fully and faithfully fulfill its responsibility.