A Chinese association organized a delegation to Japan, composing of descendants of Chinese civilian victims of the war, submitted a petition to Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, demanding that the Japanese government issue a formal apology to the Chinese people and to the civilian victims of its war of aggression. Photo: CCTV News

As China is Commemorating the 80th anniversary of victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, a Chinese association composing of descendants of Chinese civilian victims of the war, organized a delegation to Japan and submitted a petition to Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday, demanding that the Japanese government issue a formal apology to the Chinese people and to the civilian victims of its war of aggression, CCTV News reported on Monday. 

"Our main demand is for Japan to apologize. We ask the Japanese government to sincerely reflect on its responsibility and apologize to the victims," Guan Jianqiang of the Society for Safeguarding the Historical Facts of China's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression was quoted as saying in the report. 

Ma Yan, descendant of a bacteriological warfare victim, said the Japanese government must shoulder its responsibility as the aggressor state. It invaded China, and it was defeated in the war. Yet it has neither truly apologized nor genuinely admitted guilt and repented, Ma said, CCTV News reported. 

Mizuho Fukushima, leader of Japan's Social Democratic Party and member of the House of Councilors, together with Masataka Mori, a Japanese expert on the issue of germ warfare, and other concerned figures, attended the event, according to the media report.  

In response to attempts by some Japanese politicians to conceal or downplay the history of Japan's aggression, they emphasized that the Japanese government should face up to its history of invasion, learn from it, and avoid repeating past mistakes, the media report said. 

"It is very meaningful that families of Chinese victims came to Japan and directly submitted their appeal to the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, using their own voices to tell what their ancestors truly experienced," Mori said. 

Fukushima noted that historical facts cannot be denied. The Japanese government should sincerely acknowledge the past and ensure that Japanese society learns about this history. Without doing so, it will be difficult for Japan to create a better future, she was quoted as saying in the report. 

Global Times