CHINA / National |
Japan urged to properly resolve forced labor issues(Xinhua)Updated: 2007-06-28 20:21 Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang on Thursday urged the Japanese government to seriously and properly resolve the issues of "comfort women" and forced Chinese laborers during World War II. "We demand the Japanese side face squarely the call for justice from the international community, taking a responsible attitude towards history and resolving the issues in an appropriate way," Qin told a regular press conference. Qin made the comments in response to the bill passed by U.S. House panel on Tuesday, urging Japan to acknowledge formally and accept responsibility for the sexual exploitation of "comfort women" by the Japanese military during World War II. China's stance was constant and clear on the issue of "comfort women", said Qin. "The forced conscription of 'comfort women' was an atrocity perpetrated by the Japanese military in China and other countries during the Second World War." An estimated 200,000 women were forced to serve as sex slaves, known as "comfort women", for Japanese forces during World War II. Asked to comment on the Japanese Supreme Court's rejection of an appeal for compensation for Chinese forced laborers, Qin said the issue was another war crime and "we demand a proper resolution for this too". |
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