China on Thursday strongly urged Japan to provide useful information about the burial sites of the chemical weapons it abandoned in China during World War II and aid in speeding up the disposal process. Thursday marks the 27th anniversary of the signing of an MoU between China and Japan on the destruction of the chemical weapons abandoned by the latter in China.

File photo: Chinese foreign ministry

Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Mao Ning made the remarks at a routine press conference in Beijing when responding to a query about the progress of destroying abandoned chemical weapons (ACWs) in China.

"ACWs in China mark one of the grave crimes committed by Japanese militarism during its war of aggression against China. To this day, Japan's ACWs continue to pose a hazard to the safety of the Chinese people's lives and property, as well as to the natural environment," Mao said, adding that fully destroying ACWs is the unshirkable historical, political, and legal responsibility of Japan.

Mao noted that under the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and the MoU between the two countries' governments, Japan was required to complete the destruction by 2007. However, due to Japan's lack of sincerity and inadequate input, the implementation of the destruction plan has missed deadlines four times, resulting in a severely delayed disposal and lingering safety hazards.

"China strongly urges Japan to fully and faithfully fulfill its responsibilities and obligations under the CWC and the MoU, promptly provide useful information and clues concerning burial sites, accelerate the disposal process, and thoroughly eliminate the toxic legacy at an early date to return clean land to the Chinese people."