Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The People’s Republic of China
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying's Remarks on Documents of Nanjing Massacre Inscribed on Memory of World Register
Updated: October 10, 2015 17:54

Q: UNESCO announced on October 9 that documents of the Nanjing Massacre is officially inscribed on the Memory of the World Register. In a press secretary's statement on October 10, the Japanese Foreign Ministry questioned the integrity and veracity of these documents, accused UNESCO of not being neutral and fair, and called on UNESCO to have institutional reform and avoid being politicized again. What is China's comment?

A: The Chinese side welcomes the UNESCO's decision to inscribe documents of the Nanjing Massacre on the Memory of the World Register. We will ensure that these precious documents are preserved and disseminated as prescribed in relevant rules, and are given full play to their positive role of remembering the history, cherishing peace, creating future, and defending human dignity.

The Nanjing Massacre is a severe crime committed by the Japanese militarism during the Second World War, which is a historical fact acknowledged by the international society. All the filing materials that China submitted meet the screening criteria of the Memory of the World Register, especially the criteria on veracity and integrity. The filing process also meets the rules of UNESCO. They should be the memory shared by all.

Fact is not to be denied. History is not to be falsified. What the Japanese side has said and done once again revealed its reluctance to face the history squarely, which is wrong. The Chinese side urges the Japanese side to bear in mind its responsibility towards history, face up to and reflect upon its history of aggression, correct its mistakes, immediately stop pointing fingers at China's application, stop pestering UNESCO and disrupting its work, and take concrete actions to win back trust from the international community.