Japan PM
Apologizes for WWII Aggression
By AUDRA ANG, Associated Press
Writer
JAKARTA, Indonesia - Japan's
prime minister apologized Friday for his country's World War II
aggression in Asia in a bid to defuse tensions with regional rival
China, but a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said the apology needed
to be backed up with action after Japanese lawmakers made a
controversial visit to a war shrine.
Just hours before Prime
Minister Junichiro Koizumi apologized, a Cabinet minister and more than
80 Japanese lawmakers visited a Tokyo shrine to Japan's war dead.
China's Foreign Ministry expressed "strong dissatisfaction over the
negative actions of some Japanese politicians" in visiting the Yasukuni
Shrine, which also honor's Japan's executed war criminals.
"That President Koizumi
expressed this attitude in this arena is welcome. We welcome it,"
ministry spokesman Kong Quan told reporters at a summit of Asian and
African leaders. "But to express it is one aspect. What's of much more
importance is the action. You have to make it a reality."
He said "60 years of history
has caused great harm to China and Asia."
Koizumi's expression of "deep
remorse" at a summit of Asian and African leaders in Jakarta did not go
beyond what Japanese leaders previously have said.
But its delivery at the
international gathering clearly was aimed at easing an escalating row
with China over Tokyo's handling of its wartime atrocities and its bid
for a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council. Relations between
the two Asian powers have plunged in recent weeks to a three-decade low.
"In the past Japan through
its colonial rule and aggression caused tremendous damage and suffering
for the people of many countries, particularly those of Asian nations,"
Koizumi said at the summit's opening ceremony. "Japan squarely faces
these facts of history in a spirit of humility."
Chinese Foreign Ministry
spokesman Kong Quan said China welcomed Koizumi's apology — but said
more need to be done.
"That President Koizumi
expressed this attitude in this arena is welcome. We welcome it," Kong
told reporters at a summit of Asian and African leaders in Jakarta.
"But to express it is one aspect. What's of much more importance is the
action. You have to make it a reality."
China's ambassador to South
Korea, Li Bin, said: "Of course, words are important. But I believe
actions are more important."
Lu Yunfei, a spokesman for
Chinese groups that helped to mobilize three weekends of violent
anti-Japanese protests in China, said Koizumi's comments did not go far
enough.
"It's a sign of some
progress, since this is the first time a Japanese leader has offered
this kind of statement in an international forum," Lu said. "Still,
this is far, far from enough."
Lu criticized Koizumi for
failing to mention China by name and for what he called ambiguous
language in the apology.
"China was the biggest victim
of Japan's invasion. The suffering was immense," he said.
About 80 Parliament members
made the pilgrimage to the shrine, which honors Japan's 2.5 million
dead from World War II. The group visited in observance of an annual
spring festival. Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Taro Aso,
a Cabinet minister, visited the shrine alone later.
In response, China's Foreign
Ministry called on Japan to take actions that are "more conducive to
improving and developing Sino-Japanese relations," citing the "current
severe situation."
Koizumi said he was hoping
for a one-on-one meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao in Jakarta on
Saturday, Japan's Kyodo news agency reported. But China says it's still
considering the proposal.
Massive anti-Japanese
protests erupted in major Chinese cities this month after Tokyo
approved a new history textbook that critics say whitewashes Japan's
wartime atrocities, including mass sex slavery and germ warfare. The
protesters also have targeted Tokyo's Security Council bid.
Tensions also are fueled by
disputes over gas-drilling in disputed waters and Koizumi's repeated
visits to the Yasukuni Shrine.
A Japanese Foreign Ministry
spokesman said in an interview in Jakarta that Koizumi's speech clearly
shows Japan's regret, a core point he was hoping to convey to the
delegates.
"We are not just rich people
hanging around giving out money. We are doing this because our whole
attitude is based on remorse," Akira Chiba said. Tokyo is one of the
world's largest donor's of foreign aid. "I do hope that the Chinese
will hear this message, too."
He said Japan still expects
"a formal apology for what happened ... because it's against
international law what they did." The demonstrators have smashed
windows of Japan's diplomatic missions and damaged Japanese restaurants.
The Chinese government
insists that Japan is to blame for the troubles.
"It's not bad for us (if
China does not apologize). It's bad for them. It's in the interest of
both sides, not just our side," Chiba said.
Also on Friday, Singapore
accused Japan of straining relations with its neighbors by rendering a
"strange interpretation" of World War II in history textbooks. Tokyo
has approved a textbook that critics say plays down Japan's wartime
atrocities, including mass sex slavery and germ warfare.
The issue "has strained
relations between Japan and its neighbors, in particular China and
Korea. This is not in the interest of the entire region," Singapore's
Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
Japan's Kyodo News Agency
said Koizumi's remarks were based on a 1995 speech made by Tomiichi
Murayama, the prime minister at the time, marking the 50th anniversary
of the end of World War II.