Katsuya Okada, leader of the Japanese largest opposition party, the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), on Monday urged Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to be careful about his statement to be released in the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II.
Former Japanese Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama intends to attend the memorial events in China marking the 70th anniversary of the victory of anti-Japanese war in September, local media reported on Friday.
The Foreign Ministry rebutted the latest Japanese accusation that China had "unilaterally" changed the status quo in the East China Sea.
Abe will miss a chance for Japan's reconciliation with other Asian nations if he shuns the ceremonies at the Lugou Bridge.
The largest helicopter destroyer of Japan's Self-Defense Forces "Izumo" has been handed over to the Maritime SDF since Wednesday, local media reported.
China is "closely watching" Japan's policy agenda and stances this year related to history, according to a senior Chinese diplomat.
Japan "must not lose its conscience" when asked to face up to its wartime history and China welcomes leaders who are sincere about coming to the China-based commemorative events marking the 70th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese people's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.
Premier Li Keqiang said Thursday China will host events to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the victory in the world's war against fascism and the Chinese people's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression.
Japan announced its biggest defense budget on Wednesday as it prepares plans to scrap the constitutional ban on military operations overseas.
China on Wednesday voiced concern over Japan's annual military budget.
Beijing expressed to Tokyo its "serious concerns and firm opposition" Friday after more than 100 Japanese lawmakers made a pilgrimage to the shrine that honors Class-A war criminals from World War II.
Japan's anxiety, suspicion and fear over China's rise will influence the future development of Sino-Japanese relations, according to scholars of Fudan University in Shanghai in a report released on Friday.