To avoid war reminiscences, the Japanese government decided not to use military planes to fly aid to China’s earthquake victims. Tokyo officials made the announcement on Friday and added that they decided to use charter private planes to get the job done, VOA reported.

The initial plans made by the Japanese government were to deliver the aid through military planes, but some messages posted on Chinese web sites recalling the occupation of China by the Empire of Japan during World War II made them change their mind.

“As there were concerns in China, Japan and China had discussions and decided to shelve the idea of Self-Defense Forces planes providing transport,” Japan’s chief cabinet secretary, Nobutaka Machimura told a news conference in Tokyo, according to Reuters.

Meanwhile, Chinese soldiers are working day and night in a battle against time to drain a lake which formed when mudslides caused by the earthquake congested a river in China's southwestern Sichuan province. About 40 heavy earth-moving machines were used by the military to drain the lake through channels.

Authorities ordered the evacuation of nearly 1.3 million people who are living in the area endangered by the lake formed after the devastating 7.9 earthquake hit Sichuan.

According to an updated death toll of the earthquake, the powerful tremor killed at least 68,109. Another 23,150 are missing and more than 420,000 homes collapsed.

The quake also left approximately five million people without home. Several powerful aftershocks have struck the area hindering the relief efforts. The last aftershock hit the area on Sunday killing six other people and wrecking 300,000 more homes.