Wang Yi Urges Japan to Face Up to History
at 80th Anniversary of World War II Defeat
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi stated that Japan must face up to history as the country marks the 80th anniversary of its defeat in World War II.
According to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the 15th, Wang Yi, Director of the Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China (who also serves as Foreign Minister), made these remarks during a joint press conference following the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) meeting held in Anning, Yunnan Province, southern China.
Director Wang said, "Eighty years ago today, Japan accepted the Potsdam Declaration and declared unconditional surrender after its defeat. At that time, the war of aggression launched by Japanese militarism brought tremendous disaster to the people of China and other Asian countries, and the Japanese people themselves also suffered deeply."
He continued, "However, to this day, some forces in Japan still glorify and deny the aggression, distort and revise history, and even attempt to overturn and revive the war crimes committed at that time. Such actions are a challenge to the United Nations Charter and the postwar international order, a challenge to the conscience of humanity, and a challenge to all peoples of the victorious nations."
Director Wang added, "Only by facing up to history can one earn respect; only by using history as a mirror can one open up the future; and only by not forgetting past events can one avoid repeating the same mistakes. We urge Japan to make the right choice."
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