China on Tuesday was aghast at a Japanese hotel placing a book in its rooms, which denied that the Nanjing Massacre and the forced recruitment of "comfort women" ever happened.
According to reports, the APA hotel chain put a copy of "The Real History of Japan" by Seiji Fuji, the pen name of the hotel CEO, in all its rooms. The book has also been put on sale in the hotel lobby.
"We are aware of the reports," said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying.
Hua told the daily press conference that it is discouraging that despite the international community acknowledging the serious crimes against humanity committed by the Japanese during World War II, there are still forces in Japan attempting to deny or distort the truth.
"The truth of what happened will not be changed by passing of time nor will the facts disappear because of deliberate ignorance," Hua said.
She urged the Japanese government to face up and reflect on the country's past aggressions, ensure its population are exposed to a true telling of history, and for it to regain trust from its Asian neighbors and the international community through concrete action.