Chinese news agency: Japan's emperor should apologize for wartime past

SEOUL, Aug. 27 (UPI) -- China's state news agency boldly called for an official apology from Japanese Emperor Akihito, and the statement has led to complaints from Tokyo.

According to an editorial issued on Tuesday by Chinese state news agency Xinhua, which was reprinted in the Guangming Ribao, an influential Chinese newspaper for intellectuals, Japan's current emperor should apologize for Japan's wartime actions, South Korean outlet Newsis reported.

Xinhua stated Emperor Akihito's father Hirohito was the "chief agent responsible" for Japan's wartime actions in China, and as the successor to the throne Akihito must apologize for historical wrongs.

The statement from Chinese state media also said "Japan can no longer shun responsibility for a war that was the result of combining the forces of the state, military and corporations under the Emperor [Hirohito]."

An estimated 14 million Chinese died and 80 million became refugees as a consequence of Japan's occupation between 1937 and 1945.

Yonhap reported this is the first time a Chinese media outlet has demanded an apology from the Japanese emperor, and the statement was not welcomed in Tokyo, Kyodo News reported.

A source at the Japanese Foreign Ministry said the editorial "about His Imperial Majesty Akihito...demonstrates a notable loss of manners."

Emperor Akihito has stated his remorse in the past. On Aug. 15 Akihito expressed "deep remorse" for his country's history that stopped short of an apology.

In 1992, during his first visit to China, the emperor had said Japan had inflicted much suffering on the Chinese people and that he felt deep grief about the past.