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)