The Foreign
Ministry yesterday expressed strong indignation at the Japanese
government's association of the suicide of a staff member at the
Japanese Consulate General in Shanghai with the so-called "actions
of Chinese agents."
The ministry's spokesperson Qin Gang said it was a vicious act
by Japan to intentionally smear China's image.
Japan said on Wednesday that local Chinese security authorities
were believed to have taken regrettable actions behind the scene of
the suicide in May last year.
The Japanese Foreign Ministry's press secretary alleged the
Chinese agents' actions were in violation of the Vienna Convention
on Consular Relations, and claimed that since the incident
occurred, the Japanese government had lodged protests and sought
the "truth" of the case.
"It is a suicide case, and China and Japan had clearly defined
its nature one and half a year before," Qin said. Nevertheless,
"Japan has completely ulterior motives to raise the old story
again" to intentionally destroy China's image.
(Xinhua News Agency December 31, 2005)