China urges Japan to properly handle issue of forced conscription of "comfort women"

BEIJING, March 11 (Xinhua) -- China urges Japan to do serious soul-searching on its history of aggression and properly handle issues left over from history including the forced conscription of "comfort women" with an honest and responsible attitude, a foreign ministry spokesperson said here on Wednesday.

Spokesperson Guo Jiakun made the remarks at a daily press briefing, in response to a query about reports that experts from the United Nations Human Rights Council have expressed grave concern at Japan's denial of the right to truth, justice and reparation of "comfort women" survivors, and called on Japan to make apologies and full compensation, and preserve relevant historical accounts in textbooks.

Guo noted that the forced recruitment of "comfort women" is a serious crime committed by Japanese militarism, which severely trampled on the rights of the victims. He added that the evidence is ironclad and undeniable.

The UN human rights mechanism made a clear statement to once again express condemnation and outrage over Japanese militarist crimes and demonstrate the international commitment to defending fairness and justice, said Guo.

"We urge Japan to deeply reflect on its history of aggression and the disastrous suffering its crimes have inflicted on the victims, heed and act on the suggestions given by the human rights experts, and properly handle the issue of 'comfort women' and other issues left over from history with an honest and responsible attitude, to earn trust from its Asian neighbors and the international community with concrete actions," Guo added. ■