China urges Japan to honor commitment of reflecting aggression history

China urged Japan to earnestly honor its commitment of reflecting and facing up to the history of aggression, after Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe sent a ritual offering to the war-linked Yasukuni Shrine and some Japanese cabinet members and lawmakers paid tribute to the shrine on Thursday.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson speaks at a regular press conference on October 17, 2019. [Photo: fmprc.gov.cn]

"We have lodged stern representations to the Japanese side," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said Thursday at a press briefing, adding that China has taken note of the negative move relating to Yasukuni Shrine from the Japanese side.

The Yasukuni Shrine is a spiritual symbol of Japan's past militarism and honors 14 Class-A convicted war criminals from World War II who were directly responsible for its past aggression, according to Geng.

"Some Japanese politicians' moves once again show their wrong attitude toward the history of aggression," Geng said, urging the Japanese side to earnestly honor its commitment of reflecting and facing up to the aggression history and take practical actions to win trust from its Asian neighbors and the international community.