China on Friday urged Japan to reflect on its history of aggression, exercise prudence on historical issues such as the notorious Yasukuni Shrine, completely cut ties with militarism, uphold peaceful development, and win the trust of its Asian neighbors and the international community through concrete actions.

A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Japan made the remarks in response to a query on Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba recently sending an offering to the Yasukuni Shrine which honors convicted Class-A Japanese war criminals from WWII.

The spokesperson noted that 80 years ago today, Japan accepted the Potsdam Declaration and declared unconditional surrender.

The Chinese people, together with the people of the world, defeated militarism and fascism in Japan, and achieved a great victory that symbolizes the triumph of justice over evil, light over darkness and progress over reaction, said the spokesperson.

However, to this day, some forces in Japan are still trying to whitewash and deny the aggression, as well as distort and falsify history, the spokesperson said, adding that such acts are despicable and self-humiliating, and challenge the UN Charter, the post-war international order and the conscience of mankind.

The Japanese leaders and politicians' homage to the Yasukuni Shrine once again reflects Japan's wrong attitude towards its history of aggression and the lingering ghost of Japanese militarism, which further exacerbates the strong concerns and doubts of its Asian neighbors and the international community, said the spokesperson.

Noting that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, the spokesperson said Japan's correct understanding of its history is an important prerequisite for its return to the international community after the war, and the political foundation for Japan to develop relations with neighboring countries.

(Cover: The Chinese Embassy in Japan.)