China 'strongly dissatisfied' with Nagoya Denials

A Chinese government official on Wednesday expressed strong dissatisfaction over a Japanese mayor's denial of the Nanjing Massacre.

Luo Zhaohui, head of China's Foreign Ministry's Asian affairs department, made the remark when meeting with Japanese Foreign Ministry's Director General for Asian and Oceanian Affairs Shinsuke Sugiyama who is visiting China.

Mayor of Japan's Nagoya Kawamura Takashi said the Nanjing Massacre "probably never happened" on Monday while meeting with a delegation from Nanjing, a city that witnessed mass murder, genocide and rape following the Japanese invasion of the city in 1937.

The mayor's irresponsible saying which distorted the historical facts seriously hurt Chinese people, Luo said.

The Nanjing Massacre was an atrocity committed by the Japanese militarism as proved by irrefutable evidence. The international community has long reached final conclusion on this matter, which brooks no doubt, Luo said.

Luo urged the Japanese side to truly achieve "taking history as a mirror," and correctly recognize and treat the history of its aggression against China in light of the principles enshrined in the four China-Japan political documents.

Sugiyama said the mayor's relevant saying is totally personal opinion and could not represent the Japanese government's stance.

The Japanese government has not changed its stance on the historical issues, Sugiyama said. Its colonial rule and invasion in the past brought tremendous hurt and pain to people of many countries especially Asian countries.

Sugiyama said Japan expresses profound reflections and sincere apologies. And Japan is determined to adhering to the path of peaceful development.

Sugiyama said the Japanese side is ready to work with China to take the 40th anniversary of the normalization of bilateral links as an opportunity to advance bilateral exchanges and cooperation, properly handle relevant issues, and promote the development of bilateral ties in a healthy and stable way.

Nanjing and Nagoya established sister-city ties in 1978. Following Nagoya mayor's remarks, the Nanjing municipal government announced Tuesday that it would suspend official exchanges with Nagoya.

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hong Lei Wednesday said the ministry supports the decision by Nanjing municipal authorities to halt contact with the Japanese city of Nagoya and it has lodged representations with Japan over the mayor's remarks.

Noting that this year marks the 40th anniversary of the normalization of China-Japan ties, Hong said the Japanese side should abide by the principles of the historic agreements made between the two countries and work to advance bilateral relations in a healthy and stable way.

Kawamura's allegation also spawned public anger after his remarks were posted on Sina Weibo, a popular Chinese microblogging site.

"I cannot understand why some people like to distort the truth. I forgive the invasion, but it does not mean history should be denied," said Xiao Shuqin, an 84-year-old woman who witnessed Japanese invaders slaughter seven members of her family.

The Nanjing Massacre occurred in December 1937 when Japanese troops occupied the then-capital of China. More than 300,000 Chinese were murdered and a large number of women were raped.