Zou Jianping, a deputy of the National People' Congress (NPC) from Nanjing, Jiangsu province, proposed making it a crime to deny the Nanjing Massacre, during the ongoing session of NPC in Beijing.

"Some people begin to deny the war crime after a long time. Our suggestion is to let justice prevail and stop those misleading people," said Zou, a professor at Nanjing University of the Arts.

Takashi Kawamura, mayor of the Japanese city of Nagoya, denied the Nanjing Massacre while meeting with a delegation from Nanjing, causing the suspension of official exchanges between the two cities and increasing the tension as the two countries mark the 40th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations this year.

Zou said it was hard for Chinese people, particularly the residents of Nanjing, to accept the ridiculous statement from Takashi Kawamura, but there seemed to be no better way to respond to it other than the diplomatic protest.

"If the nation makes the denial of Nanjing Massacre a crime, he will be punished according to law if he is in China."

Zou's proposal has been endorsed by 36 NPC deputies from Jiangsu, Yangtze Evening News reported. According to the law, at least 30 endorsements are needed to submit motions to the NPC plenary session.

The Nanjing Massacre occurred in December 1937, when more than 300,000 Chinese were killed by Japanese soldiers during the occupation.