Beijing rejected Tokyo's demand on Wednesday to withdraw China's application to UNESCO to include the experience of "comfort women" in the UN body's Memory of the World program.

The Foreign Ministry confirmed on Tuesday that the application had been submitted, sparking a response from Tokyo on Wednesday morning when Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga denounced the application.

Suga said "it is extremely regrettable" and accused China of "making political use of the UNESCO forum and to unnecessarily play up the negative legacy of ties from a period of the past".