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Tuesday September 30, 3:03 PM

China expresses "strong indignation" to Japan over alleged orgy

China has expressed its "strong indignation" over a "criminal" orgy
involving hundreds of Japanese tourists during an urgent meeting with Japanese embassy officials, the foreign ministry said.

The alleged orgy at a hotel in southern China's Zhuhai city has sparked public anger as it reportedly took place on September 18 -- on the eve of the anniversary of the start of Japan's World War II occupation of China on September 18, 1931.

"This criminal incident of an odious nature harmed the feelings of Chinese people and also seriously harmed Japan's international image," a foreign ministry official told Japanese diplomats Monday, the ministry said on its website.

"The Chinese side expresses strong indignation regarding the above mentioned actions of the Japanese," the foreign ministry official said.

"The Chinese side hopes the Japanese side will teach its citizens to strictly abide by Chinese laws when visiting China, step up moral restraint and not do anything that is illegal or that would harm the feelings of the two countries' people," the official said.

A Japanese embassy spokesman said Japanese officials said at the meeting that such an incident would be "regrettable" if it indeed occurred.

"We said although the factual aspects of this issue are not clear yet, if things had taken place as reported, it would be regrettable," the spokesman said.

"It's quite natural for Japanese visitors in China to observe Chinese laws and regulations. We hope that this will not cause a negative impact on our bilateral friendship," the spokesman quoted the Japanese embassy official as telling the Chinese side.

The Japanese embassy spokesman declined to comment on the alleged orgy, saying Japan was still in the process of fact-finding.

While prostitution is rampant in China and it is common for foreigners to be solicited around five-star hotels, the incident has ignited a wave of anti- Japanese sentiment, as many people are convinced the orgy was timed to humiliate China on the sensitive anniversary.

http://sg.news.yahoo.com/030930/1/3ekxu.html