On July 14 China criticized Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott for praising Japan’s World War II effort.

According to Xinhuanet, Abbott said: “We admired the honor and sense of skill [the Japanese] brought to their task, although we disagreed what they did. Perhaps we grasped, even then, that with a change of heart the fiercest of opponents could be the best of friends.”

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei responded: “Japanese fascist invaders brought profound suffering to people in a number of countries, including Australia, during World War II. Their aggression was extremely brutal.”

Abbott invited Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe “to deliver a speech at [the Australian] parliament” on July 15.

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