Abe's Pearl Harbor visit will not erase crimes of the past, ministry says

Japanese leaders should deeply and sincerely reflect upon its history of aggression during World War II and cut ties with its past, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Tuesday.

Hua made the remark in response to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visiting Pearl Harbor, with, according to Kyodo News Agency a "forgiving heart" and "reconciliation" as key words, to, as Kyodo added, "completely clear Japan's WWII history".

It is Abe's own wishful thinking that he could completely clear Japan's name in WWII by going to Pearl Harbor and "comfort the spirit of the dead", said Hua.

"Don't forget, China was the main eastern battleground for the World Anti-Fascist War," said Hua. "The Chinese people sacrificed tremendously for the victory. Without reconciling with China and other suffering Asian countries, Japan can't turn this page of history."

Japanese leaders shouldn't evade the crucial subject and dwell on the trivial, and should profoundly reflect with introspection on Japan's war crimes in a manner that truly takes responsibility for the country's history and future, Hua said.