Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

China rebukes Japan over gas death

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • China rebukes Japan over gas death

    China rebukes Japan over gas death

    China has summoned the Japanese ambassador to express its anger at the death of a man poisoned by mustard gas left over from World War II.
    In a strongly-worded statement, China's Vice Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, demanded that Japan clean up its abandoned chemical weapons.

    He said Japan could not shirk its responsibility and China would not tolerate another such death.

    The Japanese Government has sent its condolences to the bereaved family and promised to continue its efforts to dispose of the dangerous chemicals.

    The man who died, in the north-eastern city of Qiqihar, suffered massive burns after the gas leaked from old barrels unearthed on a building site.

    More than 30 people were injured in the accident, which happened earlier this month.

    "The chemical weapons that Japan has left over in China has cruelly injured and taken the precious lives of many Chinese people," Mr Wang said.

    "Even today, 58 years later, this cancer is constantly threatening the safety of Chinese people's lives. It makes the Chinese people furious."

    The dead man, Li Guizhen, bought five barrels of the mustard gas on 4 August, which he planned to sell for recycling, Xinhua news agency reported.

    While opening one of the barrels he was exposed to an oily liquid later found to be decades-old mustard gas.

    He died in a military hospital on Thursday night.

    Japan's wartime record in China is a regular source of tension between the two governments.

    Large quantities of chemical weapons were left behind by the retreating Japanese army, some of them buried or concealed.

    Several cases have already been lodged by Chinese plaintiffs against the Japanese Government, alleging damage or injury because of the weapons.

    Lawyers for the plaintiffs say up to 2,000 people have died since the war after coming into contact with the weapons

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3175463.stm
    "Every man has his weakness. Mine was always just cigarettes."
Working...
X