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Tuesday, 20 February, 2001, 16:32 GMT
Furore over Japan WWII remarks continues
![]() Asian countries bore the brunt of Japan's expansionism
The political storm over a Japanese politician's controversial praise for his country's role in World War II continued to rage on Tuesday.
As angry responses poured in from China and the Korea peninsula, Japan's foreign minister sought to distance the government from the row, saying the comments did not reflect official policy. Opposition parties in Japan have lashed out at the government over the issue and are boycotting budget hearings in parliament. 'Ridiculous' comments China described the comments as "ridiculous" while North Korea accused Japan of being "political dwarfs".
"The war of aggression launched by Japanese militarists brought about tremendous disaster to victims in [Asia]... Their crime was so serious that it brooks no denying." "The point at issue is why Japan is letting loose a string of rubbish in a bid to beautify and justify its history of past aggression," the North Korean Central News Agency said, adding that war memories were still fresh in Korea, which Japan ruled from 1910 to 1945. Latest scandal Four Japanese opposition parties said they would jointly submit a motion to parliament demanding that Norota, a former defence minister, step down as budget panel chairman over his comments.
Contentious remarks by Japanese leaders over the country's military past have hindered relations with neighbouring countries. New reports continue to emerge alleging brutality by Japan during its occupation of Asian countries during the war. Last month, a Chinese doctor told a Tokyo court how Japan's military ''bombed'' a Chinese city with fleas carrying bubonic plague, triggering a serious outbreak of the disease. The doctor was giving evidence at a case in which 180 Chinese are demanding compensation and an apology from Japan for the deaths of relatives.
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