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Media slam Japan over 'comfort women' denial

23 October 2014

Media in China slam Japan over its latest denial that it was using "comfort women" during World War II forcing them to work in military brothels .

According to reports, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga has rejected his predecessor Yohei Kono's statement made in 1993, admitting that the Japanese military had coerced women into being sex slaves.

A commentary in the People's Liberation Army Daily observes that this is the first time the Japanese government has openly rejected Mr Kono's admission.

Criticising right-wing forces in Japan, the article says the "denial" and "distortion" of history have strongly damaged the reputation of the country.

Lashing out at Japan, a front-page commentary in the overseas edition of the People's Daily says that "denial of history will never earn respect".

"The administration of PM Shinzo Abe is scheming to escape responsibilities and cover up their wrongdoing, but no matter what means they resort to, they are not able to deceive anyone," writes the paper.

"Japan has said it wants to be a peaceful nation and calls for meetings with the top leaders of neighbouring countries to develop friendly ties, but it keeps denying its sins of militarism, causing its neighbours and the international community to be worried," says the article.

A report in the Guangming Daily accuses Japan of duplicity.

"The Abe regime is trying to be friendly with Beijing, Seoul and Pyongyang and is temporarily hiding its arrogance in order to achieve a diplomatic breakthrough," says the daily, "However, Mr Suga's comments remind us once again that the conservative right-wing forces in Japan have never stopped distorting history by using even more despicable and sinister means."



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