Download
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 theUNESCO forum and to unnecessarily play up the negative legacy of ties from a period of the past".
However, revisionist remarks made by prominent Japanese figures in recent months –some explicitly denying that the Japanese wartime army forced Asian women into sexual slavery – have once again prompted global concern.
"Equivocations from senior Japanese politicians - including Prime Minister Shinzo Abe – have exacerbated the impression that Tokyo wants the world to forget the horrific practice," AFP commented on Wednesday.
Suga, Tokyo's top spokesperson, also stated that the Japanese side had protested to Beijing in this regard, demanding a withdrawal of the application.
But the response from Beijing was firm.
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters on Wednesday:
"We will not accept the unreasonable request from Japan and we will not withdraw the application."
She said that China's application to the Memory of the World is "to remember history, protect human dignity and prevent those crimes and atrocities that violate humanity and human rights from happening again".
Yang Bojiang, deputy director of the Institute of Japanese Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said the Japanese ruling party has a record of distorting or denying the history of "comfort women", a move that has triggered concerns even from the United States, Japan's traditional ally.
Early in 2007, Yang said, the Japanese cabinet approved a consensus during Abe's first term as prime minister to claim that there is "no substantial evidence" to prove that forcing women into sexual slavery was official wartime government policy.
Earlier this month in Tokyo, "comfort women" and their relatives from South Korea, Indonesia, the Philippines and China attended the 12th Asian Solidarity Conference on Military Sexual Slavery by Japan.
The attendees issued a statement calling for the issue of "comfort women" to be included in Japan's school history textbooks.
Estelita Basbano Dy, an 84-year-old Filipina, was forcibly taken by the Japanese Imperial Army from her hometown when she was 14. She said that she was living proof of what Abe has denied many times and accused the Japanese prime minister of lying.
Liu Junhong, a research scholar at the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, said Abe even publicly expressed opposition to the Murayama Statement before he regained premiership in December 2017.
On Aug 15, 1995, the "Murayama Statement" was released by Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama. He apologized for the wartime damage and suffering caused by Japan to its Asian neighbors.
Question:
1. Who is Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary?
Answer: Yoshihide Suga
2. China submitted its application to which UN program?
Answer: Memory of the World program
3. How old was Estelita Basbano Dy when she was taken by the Japanese army?
Answer: 14 years old
About the broadcaster:
Lance Crayon is a videographer and editor with China Daily. Since living in Beijing he has worked for China Radio International (CRI) and Global Times. Before moving to China he worked in the film industry in Los Angeles as a talent agent and producer. He has a B.A. in English from the University of Texas at Arlington.
英语幽默故事:搞错了
幼儿英语小故事3
西游记英语版:跳出八卦炉
儿童英语故事 Cradel Song
伊索英语寓言故事:金丝雀与蝙蝠
小学英语寓言故事 Look for a Friend
小学英语童话故事 睡美人
小学英语故事 大鼻子王子
英语寓言故事 Three craftsmen
幼儿英语小故事1
英语故事 趣味英语Love with an open hand
小学英语故事 Three Good Friends
幼儿英语小故事4
英语故事 扫烟囱的牧羊女
小学英语寓言故事 口渴的鸽子
儿童英语故事 Hey,Diddle,Diddle
儿童英语故事 12张卡片的故事
趣味搞笑英语故事 汤姆是玛丽
小学英语故事 teddybears
小学英语故事 老鼠会……
英语故事 公鸡和宝玉
英语故事 Donkeys and his shadow
双语格林童话:狼和人
小学英语故事2则:I'm Trying to Stop It
英语故事 星座知识Astrology
英语伊索寓言故事 狮和鼠
英语故事 The Saucy Boy
英语故事 夜莺
英语故事 Children and Ramie孩子与苎麻
英语故事 Catch stone fisherman捕石头的渔夫
不限 |
英语教案 |
英语课件 |
英语试题 |
不限 |
不限 |
上册 |
下册 |
不限 |