The "ridiculous claims" by a major official of Japan on its role in its aggressive war during World War II reflect the ignorance and arrogance about history among some people in Japan, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Zhu Bangzao said in Beijing Wednesday.
Zhu was responding to a question about the claim by Hosei Norota, chairman of the Budget Committee of the Lower House of Japanese parliament and also former defense minister.
Norota was quoted as saying the independence of Southeast Asian nations was a result of the war launched by Japan during the Second World War.
Zhu said the aggression by Japanese militarists caused catastrophe to people of invaded countries in Asia. The evils of the militarists were too many to record and cannot be denied.
"The ridiculous claims reflect the ignorance and arrogance about history among some people in Japan, and can only make people more cautious toward similar political tendencies in Japan," Zhu said.
(Xinhua 02/21/2001)
