China voices concern for Japan's denial of 'comfort women' enslavement

BEIJING - China voiced severe concern over the Japanese government's denial of recruiting wartime "comfort women" on Wednesday, urging the country to seriously honor its commitments to reflect on its aggressive past.

"Enslaving 'comfort women' is one of the grave crimes that the Japanese military committed against people of its victim countries during WWII, which had undeniable proofs," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying at a press briefing.

Her comments came in response to a question regarding Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga's latest comments.

Speaking at a parliamentary committee on Tuesday, Suga rejected former Chief Cabinet Secretary Yohei Kono's admission of coercion in the Japanese imperial army's sexual enslavement of women during the war.

The Japanese government rejects the claim of coercion, Suga said, urging efforts to recover the honor and credibility of the country.

Suga also added the Japanese government had no plans to revise the "Kono statement", which Kono made in 1993 acknowledging Japan's recruitment of more than 200,000 young women from China, Korea and Southeast Asia and forced them to serve in military brothels during WWII.

"Any attempt to deny Japan's historical crimes and facts could only be counterproductive, and arouse alert to Japan's attempts to reverse verdicts for its wartime history," Hua said.

"We seriously urge Japan to honor its previous comments and commitments of facing up to and reflecting on its aggressive history," She said.