China protests to Japan over reports it asked foreign leaders to skip Victory Day parade
Foreign ministry says Tokyo should face up to its history after claims it urged other countries not to attend the ‘anti-Japanese’ event
Citing anonymous diplomatic sources, Japan’s Kyodo news agency reported on Sunday that Japanese embassies abroad had been warning that the Victory Day events had anti-Japanese overtones.
Guo Jiakun, a spokesman for the Chinese foreign ministry, said on Tuesday that Beijing had lodged protests with Japan, asked for clarification and urged Japan to face up to its past.
“Any country that honestly confronts history, genuinely learns from historical lessons, and sincerely commits to peaceful development would not harbour doubts or raise objections regarding this matter,” Guo told reporters in Beijing.
“If Japan truly wishes to move beyond historical issues, it should confront and reflect on its history of aggression with an honest attitude, sever all ties with militarism, pursue a path of peaceful development, and genuinely respect the feelings of the people of China and other victimised nations. Only then can it gain the trust of its Asian neighbours and the international community.”