Drafts of a new edition of a history textbook used in Japanese schools have again sparked waves of criticism. China and the Republic of Korea say they have been "deeply hurt" by the "twisted history" in the school books which "again" fail to mention the atrocities the Japanese committed during World War II.

China has urged Japan to stop hurting the feelings of the people of all the victimized Asian countries and correct its mistakes. 

Japan's new history-distorted textbook attempts to reverse the verdict on its history of aggression and to seek hegemonism. 

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said on Friday that China hopes Japan can deal with the issue appropriately. He said China hopes the Japanese government should consider the just appeals of its Asian neighbors.

The question concerning Japan's history-distorted textbook has long been baffling Asian countries. Japan has been trying its utmost to play down and beautify its history of aggression and war crimes.

The growing anger against Japan's alleged denial of its war crimes comes as Japan seeks a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.

Liu Jianchao also said on  Friday that China is "strongly dissatisfied" with the rejection of a Japanese court on the compensation suit by wartime Chinese sex slaves.

The Japanese Tokyo High Court recently rejected a compensation claim by two Chinese women who were forced to be sex slaves by Japanese soldiers during World War Two. The reference used by the court was a treaty signed by the Japanese government and the Taiwan Authority in 1952, which is "illegal and invalid," said Liu.

The treaty in question was abolished following the normalization of China-Japan diplomatic relations. Liu called the court's citation of this treaty a "rude violation" of norms of international relations.

"We are asking the leaders of Japan and the legal department to strictly abide by the Sino-Japanese joint communique and fulfill its promise on the Taiwan issue," Liu stressed.

"Sex slavery was one of the serious crimes of Japan during World War Two. The Japanese government should shoulder the responsibility and deal with the issue sincerely and carefully," Liu said.

(CRI, Xinhua News Agency March 26, 2005)