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China criticizes Australian FM for Japanese aggression

TOKYO, July 14 (KUNA) -- China on Monday criticized remarks by Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott's on Japanese aggression during World War II, reminding Australia to remember the profound suffering Japan caused during that period, state media reported.
"Japanese fascist invaders brought profound suffering to people in a number of countries, including Australia, during World War II. Their aggression was extremely brutal," Xinhua News Agency quoted Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei as saying in Beijing.
"I believe anyone with a conscience will disagree with the remarks made by the Australian leader," Hong told a press conference.
Abbott, inviting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to deliver a speech at Parliament last week, showed his admiration for the "skill" Japanese forces performed during World War II.
"We admired the skill and the sense of honor that they brought to their task, although we disagreed with what they did. Perhaps we grasped, even then, that with a change of heart the fiercest of opponents could be the best of friends," the Australian leader said.
Japan's relations with China have been strained due to a territorial dispute and differences over wartime history. (end) mk.mt