Premier Li Keqiang, in Potsdam, warns Japan on postwar vows (original) (raw)

Premier Li Keqiang made use of his visit to Germany to send a warning to Japan that no country would be allowed to violate the peace achieved after the second world war.

"We should not allow anyone to destroy or deny the postwar peace order," Li said in the German city of Potsdam, site of the 1945 conference that helped define national boundaries after the Nazi defeat. It was also where terms of surrender were dictated to Japan.

We should not allow anyone to destroy or deny the postwar peace order

Li Keqiang

Li stressed that the Potsdam agreement reaffirmed Japan should return all territory stolen from China. Specifically, he said: "Japan must return the islands they have stolen, including the islands in northeastern China and Taiwan."

Li's statement comes amid rising tension over the Diaoyu Islands, which Japan calls the Senkakus. Yesterday, Japan lodged a formal complaint with China after three Chinese marine surveillance ships sailed in waters near the islands for more than five hours. Four ships manned by Japanese right-wing activists were also sailing in the waters.

"We must at all times firmly safeguard the peace and post-war order, which was achieved at the price of tens of millions of lives," Li said as he toured Cecilienhof palace in Potsdam.

"Any attempt to deny or glorify wartime aggression during those years are nothing but a challenge to international justice, which will not be tolerated by the Chinese people and will be condemned by people all over the world", Xinhua cited Li as saying.