China: The Chinese branch of Asahi Breweries Ltd., a major Japanese beer maker, denied its links to a controversial history textbook on March 31. Some stores in China pulled its products from their shelves in protest after local media reports that Asahi Breweries provided financial resources to the Japanese Society for History Textbook Reform, which edited the controversial textbook, according to Kyodo News. A statement issued by Asahi's general representative in China said the company was not engaged in such kind of sponsorship.

The growing dispute also drew a reaction from a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, who called the case "very worrying" and said the Chinese government hopes economic and trade issues do not become political in nature.

Asahi's view of history is in line with a 1995 statement issued by then Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama, which expressed Japan's heartfelt apology for bringing damage and pain to the people of China, the statement issued by Asahi's Masahiko Osawa said. "Based on this spirit, Asahi Breweries have been engaged in joint ventures with many partners in China since entering the Chinese market in 1994," Osawa said.

The statement came after Asahi's products were pulled off supermarket shelves in Changchun in China's northeast Jilin Province to protest the company's reported links with the textbook.

The Japanese government is in the process of screening textbooks, including the nationalistic history textbook for junior high schools, which critics describe as inaccurate and biased. The decision on the controversial text is set for early next week.

Asked about the incident in a press conference on Thursday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said, "We also hope economic and trade issues do not become political."

But he added, "At the same time, we also hope that the various sectors in Japan will take a correct attitude toward history, take responsibility, and recognize history in a correct way."

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