WW2-ANNIVERSARY/CHINA REAX China says Japan complaints about UN Ban's WW2 parade visit "irritating"

Record ID: 140496

  • Title: WW2-ANNIVERSARY/CHINA REAX China says Japan complaints about UN Ban's WW2 parade visit "irritating"
  • Date: 1st September 2015
  • Summary: BEIJING, CHINA (SEPTEMBER 1, 2015) (REUTERS) CHINA'S FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESWOMAN HUA CHUNYING WALKING IN FOR REGULAR BRIEFING JOURNALISTS SEATED (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHINA'S FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESWOMAN HUA CHUNYING SAYING: "At the moment of the international community is commemorating of 70th anniversary of World Anti-Fascist War, Japan's so-called protest or remarks sound very irritating, which is deliberately provocative. We hope Japan can truly face up to and deeply reflect the history of militarism aggression with honest and modest attitudes." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS EXTERIOR OF CHINA'S FOREIGN MINISTRY CHINESE NATIONAL FLAG FLYING
  • Embargoed: 16th September 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: China
  • Country: China
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA743MW28K90KMEIAQ5W9LQVU
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: China's Foreign Ministry on Tuesday (September 1) rebuffed as "irritating" complaints from Japan about the Beijing visit of U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to watch a military parade marking the end of World War Two.
    Thousands of Chinese troops will march through central Beijing on Thursday (September 3) to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the war's end, overseen by Chinese President Xi Jinping and leaders such as Russian President Vladimir Putin.
    Western leaders have mostly declined to attend, as has Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
    Japanese media reported that Japan's Foreign Ministry has expressed "strong displeasure" with Ban's attendance.
    Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying dismissed those remarks.
    "At the moment of the international community is commemorating of 70th anniversary of World Anti-Fascist War, Japan's so-called protest or remarks sound very irritating, which is deliberately provocative. We hope Japan can truly face up to and deeply reflect the history of militarism aggression with honest and modest attitudes," she told a daily news briefing.
    Ban told Chinese state-run media last week that he was aware of Japan's complaints but that it was important to recognise China's sacrifices and contributions during the war.
    Memories of the war still burn deeply in China, as well as in North and South Korea, due to what many people believe is Japan's failure to atone properly for its wartime conduct. Millions of people died in China during the war.
    South Korean President Park Geun-hye will also attend the Beijing parade, along with a senior North Korean official.
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