Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian

China slammed the latest criticism from Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, who "strongly hopes China and Russia will refrain from indulging in criticism of other countries."  The latest China-Russia joint statement urged the Japanese government to learn lessons from history, speak and act prudently on historical issues, and make a clean break with militarism. 

China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Tuesday that Japanese militarists launched a war of aggression and committed countless atrocities during WWII, bringing tremendous suffering to the people of China and other countries in Asia. A correct understanding and attitude toward history is a crucial prerequisite for Japan's post-war return to the international community, a political foundation for its relations with neighboring countries, and an important measure of whether Japan can truly uphold its commitment to peaceful development. "However, even today, there are still frequent attempts within Japan to beautify its war of aggression and colonial history," Lin said.

In response to the joint statement by China and Russia, Hayashi rejected the remarks during a press conference on Friday, criticizing China's military activities and Russia's actions in Ukraine,Kyodo News reported on Friday.

Lin emphasized that Japan has been evasive on the issue of forcibly recruiting "comfort women," a grave humanitarian crime. Some Japanese politicians have repeatedly visited the Yasukuni Shrine, which honors Class-A war criminals - actions that have triggered strong dissatisfaction and serious concern among neighboring countries. Instead of deeply reflecting on its aggression and war crimes, Japan has criticized the joint efforts by China and Russia to uphold historical truth and strive for world peace. This once again reveals Japan's erroneous attitude toward historical issues. China firmly opposes this, the spokesperson said.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, Lin said, who urged Japan to deeply reflect on its historical crimes and earnestly learn the lessons of the past. 

With a responsible attitude toward history, the people, and the future, Japan should make a clean break with all acts that seek to beautify its history of aggression, adhere to the path of peaceful development, and earn the trust of its Asian neighbors and the international community through concrete actions, the spokesperson said.