1st LD-Writethru: Japanese PM's address blurs Japan's responsibility for its acts of aggression: Chinese spokesperson

BEIJING, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- In her speech, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi shunned reflection on historical lessons and blurred Japan's responsibility for its acts of aggression, taking a major backward step on historical issues, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Monday.

This once again laid bare the sinister attempt of the Takaichi administration to cover up, distort and reverse the verdict on Japan's history of aggression, Lin said at a regular news briefing when asked to comment on Takaichi's address at the National Memorial Service for the War Dead on Aug. 15.

On the day marking Japan's unconditional surrender in the Second World War, Takaichi made a monetary offering to the war-linked Yasukuni Shrine, and certain cabinet members and political figures such as Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi also visited the shrine, said Lin.

It made Asian neighbors and the international community even more alarmed by what's Japan really up to. Those with insights in Japan pointed out that a country without sense of remorse can hardly gain trust and what the defense minister has done amounts to supporting the war of aggression, said Lin.

Noting this year marks the 81st anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, as well as the 80th anniversary of the beginning of the Tokyo Trials, Lin said only by facing up to and learning lessons from the history, can one avoid repeating past mistakes and going astray.

"We once again urge those running the Japanese government to listen to the voice of its people and the international community, deeply reflect on its war crimes, make a clean break with militarism and stop going further down the wrong path," Lin emphasized. Enditem