China Criticizes Japan's Attempt to Register Sado Mine with UNESCO, Saying "Must Reflect"

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[Asia Economy Reporter Cha Min-young] The Chinese government stated that Japan should "face history and reflect" regarding the Japanese government's decision to pursue UNESCO World Heritage registration for Sado Mine, a forced labor site of Koreans during the Japanese colonial period.

Zhao Lijian, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, responded this way on the 11th during a regular briefing when asked by Chinese-language media about President Moon Jae-in's recent joint written interview with Yonhap News Agency and seven global news agencies, in which he expressed "regret" and "concern" over Japan's recent decision related to Sado Mine.

Spokesperson Zhao also added, "(Japan) must properly address the issues left by history with a sincere and responsible attitude and concrete actions, and earn the trust of Asian neighboring countries and the international community."

The Japanese government approved on the 1st at a cabinet meeting the plan to recommend Sado Mine as Japan's candidate for the 2023 World Heritage registration and subsequently submitted the nomination to the UNESCO World Heritage Centre.

Sado Mine is a site where many Koreans were mobilized and forced into harsh labor during the Japanese colonial period. However, the Japanese government is promoting the World Heritage registration by highlighting only that Sado Mine was the largest gold mine in Japan during the 17th-century Edo period and the world's largest gold producer, excluding these historical facts.

The Korean government strongly opposes Japan's attempt to recommend Sado Mine as a World Heritage site and plans to take an "all-out response." It will cooperate with the international community centered on a civilian-government joint task force (TF) composed of related agencies and experts. On the 3rd, Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong also held a phone call with Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi to protest Japan's UNESCO cultural heritage registration of Sado Mine.

In a joint written interview on the 10th with eight domestic and international news agencies belonging to the Asia-Pacific News Agencies (OANA), President Moon Jae-in said, "What is regrettable is that the Japanese government is recently pushing for the UNESCO cultural heritage registration of 'Sado Mine,'" adding, "It is a concerning matter at a time when we should seek to resolve past issues and develop a future-oriented relationship."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.