World Media, Scholars Rap Abe's Sincerity-Lacking Statement On Japan's Wartime Past

[Purveyor]

Source: Xinhua

English.news.cn 2015-08-15 14:24:58 [More]

BEIJING, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe issued a statement Friday to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, but refrained from offering his own apology for Japan's wartime past, drawing criticism from media and scholars worldwide.

South Korean media widely believed that Abe's statement avoided direct apology and lacked sincerity.

Yonhap News Agency said in a commentary that Abe's statement was a huge step backwards, in comparison with the statements made by former Japanese Prime Ministers Tomiichi Murayama and former Chief Cabinet Secretary Yohei Kono.

Both Murayama and Kono clearly mentioned in their statements that Japan's colonial rule and aggression caused tremendous damage and suffering to many Asian countries, Yonhap said, but Abe used ambiguous wordings for introspection and apology.

Read more: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2015-08/15/c_134520343.htm

[yuiyoshida]

1. Mixed world reaction to Abe's WWII statement

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s statement on his country’s actions in World War II drew varied reaction around the world, with criticism from China and South Korea’s ruling party and praise from the United States, among others.


“The wars of aggression launched by Japanese militarism inflicted untold sufferings on the people of China and other victim countries in Asia. ... Today, as the international community marks the 70th anniversary of the victory of the Second World War, Japan should have made an explicit statement on the nature of the war of militarism and aggression and its responsibility on the wars, made (a) sincere apology to the people of victim countries, and made a clean break with the past of militarist aggression, rather than being evasive on this major issue of principle.”

— Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Hua Chunying.

“We welcome Prime Minister Abe’s expression of deep remorse for the suffering caused by Japan during the World War II era, as well as his commitment to uphold past Japanese government statements on history. ... For 70 years Japan has demonstrated an abiding commitment to peace, democracy, and the rule of law. This record stands as a model for nations everywhere.”

— U.S. National Security Council spokesman Ned Price.

more...http://www.japantoday.com/category/politics/view/mixed-world-reaction-to-abes-wwii-statement

Emperor expresses deep remorse on WW2 anniversary

TOKYO —

Emperor Akihito marked the 70th anniversary of the end of World War Two with an expression of “deep remorse” over the conflict on Saturday, a departure from his annual script which could be seen as a subtle rebuke of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Abe on Friday expressed “utmost grief”, but said future generations should not have to keep apologising for the mistakes of the past. He offered no fresh apology of his own.

“Reflecting on our past and bearing in mind the feelings of deep remorse over the last war, I earnestly hope that the ravages of war will never be repeated,” Akihito, 81, said at a memorial service on the anniversary of the day his father, Hirohito, announced Japan’s defeat.

“Together with all of our people, I now pay my heartfelt tribute to all those who lost their lives in the war, both on the battlefields and elsewhere, and pray for world peace and for the continuing development of our country.”

http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/emperor-expresses-deep-remorse-on-ww2-anniversary

[bananas]

2. I thought this was going to be a rap music video. nt

[4lbs]

3. It is understandable that the other Asian countries are less than impressed with Abe's statement.

While the Western world talks about the number of Jewish people killed by Germany in WW2, how many Americans died, or Japanese were killed by the atomic bombs, little is mentioned about how many Asians were killed by the Japanese military in WW2.

At least the same number of Asians, maybe even more, were killed by Japan, than Jewish by Germany.

From R.J. Rummel's "Statistics of Democide", chapter 3 which focuses on that of Japan.

https://www.hawaii.edu/powerkills/SOD.CHAP3.HTM



From the invasion of China in 1937 to the end of World War II, the Japanese military regime murdered near 3,000,000 to over 10,000,000 people, most probably almost 6,000,000 Chinese, Indonesians, Koreans, Filipinos, and Indochinese, among others, including Western prisoners of war. This democide was due to a morally bankrupt political and military strategy, military expediency and custom, and national culture (such as the view that those enemy soldiers who surrender while still able to resist were criminals).