BEIJING, March 29 -- China on Wednesday applauded the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to reject an appeal filed by Japanese-Americans seeking the removal of a "comfort woman" statue in California.

"The conscription of comfort women was a grave anti-human crime of Japanese militarism committed against Asian countries victimized during World War II," said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang at a daily press briefing. "The crimes of Japanese militarism are irrefutable and cannot be denied."

The U.S. Supreme Court's decision came Monday, despite the Japanese government's opinion presented to the court in February, after it was asked to hold hearings seeking the removal of the statue, according to reports.

Lu said the world should be alert to the fact that Japan has all along failed to show a correct attitude on historical issues, and that it even attempted to block the just actions of the international community.