A Chinese envoy yesterday warned Prime Minister Shinzo Abe not to shirk responsibility for Japan’s wartime aggression in his statement marking the 70th anniversary of the end of the hostilities.
Cheng Yonghua, China’s ambassador to Japan, told a news conference that Beijing is closely watching if Abe’s statement would stick to Tokyo’s past expressions of remorse and show “sincerity” to the victims of Japanese wartime brutality. He said it will be a sign determining Japan’s future direction and relations with Asian neighbors.
Abe is expected to make a statement before the Aug. 15 anniversary.
Relations between Japan and China have been strained over historical and territorial disputes, though some improvement has emerged since Abe and Chinese President Xi Jinping met last November.
“We will be watching how Japan sums up its past and shows sincerity to the victimized countries, especially the people who suffered from Japan’s wartime actions,” Cheng said. “Any downplaying or shirking Japan’s responsibility would be tantamount to opening up the victims’ wounds and rubbing salt on them.”
In a landmark 1995 statement issued by then-Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama for the 50th anniversary of the war’s end, Japan offered its clearest and most extensive apology to the victims of its wartime aggression.
Abe has repeatedly upset its neighbors over his historical view defending Japan’s wartime actions. He has said there is no clear definition of aggression, and that he was not necessarily standing by the 1995 statement, although he later promised to keep the statement following protests from China and South Korea.
Abe is still seen as reluctant to repeat the same apology and wants to stress Japan’s postwar achievements.
In March, Abe appointed a panel of experts to discuss his upcoming statement, asking its 16 members to review a study of Japan’s wartime history, its economic progress and future contributions. Its final report is pending. Mari Yamaguchi, Tokyo, AP
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