Politics
13:15, 01-Sep-2017
Japan DPM has ‘wrong perception of history’ on Hitler, says Chinese Foreign Ministry
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The Japanese deputy prime minister’s suggestion this week that Hitler’s “motives were right” demonstrates that some Japanese politicians hold a “wrong perception of history,” a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said on Thursday.
Japan’s Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso was quoted by Kyodo News Agency on Tuesday as saying: “I don’t question your motives (to be a politician). But the results are important. Hitler, who killed millions of people, was no good, even if his motives were right.”
Aso, also Japan’s finance minister, on Wednesday retracted the remark made to lawmakers of his faction in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.
Japanese Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso on Tuesday said: "Hitler, who killed millions of people, was no good, even if his motives were right." /AFP Photo
Japanese Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso on Tuesday said: "Hitler, who killed millions of people, was no good, even if his motives were right." /AFP Photo
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters on Thursday that the remark “shows that there is still a group of Japanese politicians clinging to the wrong perception of history.”
“When it comes to historical issues that concern cardinal matters of right and wrong, no wrong words or deeds that deviate from the international social ethics and human conscience will be tolerated,” she added.
“We once again urge those forces in Japan to straighten their view on history, genuinely learn lessons from history, and take concrete actions to win the trust of its Asian neighbors and the international community.”
Taro Aso has made a series of controversial comments in recent years. /AFP Photo
Taro Aso has made a series of controversial comments in recent years. /AFP Photo
In 2013 Aso drew international condemnation after he said Tokyo should learn from Nazi Germany when it comes to constitutional reform.
Aso had previously made some controversial comments include criticizing women who don't have children and saying old people should "hurry up and die" to save healthcare costs. He later retracted the comments.
The Aso incident follows an apology from the Bank of Japan, after board member Yutaka Harada told a seminar in June that Hitler’s economic policies had been “appropriate” and “wonderful” but had enabled the Nazi dictator to do “horrible” things.
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