China's first plaintiff in 'comfort women' case dies  

中國慰安婦對日訴訟第一人萬愛花去世

Taiyuan (CNS) -- Wan Aihua, the first "comfort woman" to testify openly against the Japanese military, passed away Wednesday at the age of 82 in Taiyuan, Shanxi province.

Wan's adopted daughter Li Ladi told reporters that her mother had died with no final words. Wan had been in hospital, but was brought home Tuesday afternoon according to her wishes, the daughter said.

The date of Wan's funeral has not been decided, she also said.

Zhang Shuangbing, an expert on "comfort women" cases, said that with another victim passing away, the lawsuit against the Japanese government will become more difficult.

Several victims in Shanxi started appealing to the Japanese government in 1992 for apologies and compensation. Wan was the first to come forward in public to testify that she had been a sex slave of the Japanese army.

Wan went to Japan several times, but her attempts in court failed.