Japan’s Shinzo Abe is right: Enough with the historical apologies

But he failed to clarify their perpetrators and victims while making only an indirect “apology”, by vowing to inherit previous governments’ positions.

Against this touchstone, Abe’s assurance that his predecessors’ words of apology and contrition are “unshakeable” should be accepted at face value. Unfortunately, Mr. Abe’s speech does not succeed in providing this. Abe added that 80 per cent of Japan’s current population is from the postwar era and should not “be predestined to apologize”. A number of high-ranking figures visit China from all around the world to attend its WWII Victory Day ceremony, which means that the Chinese government has an opportunity to resolve a series of diplomatic issues at a stretch.

Abe’s statement met with criticism in China. China’s Xinhua news agency called it insincere. “Instead of pinpointing his ambiguous words, we’ll continue to urge Japan to show honest remorse and action for peace”.

The so-called Murayama Statement, which became a benchmark for subsequent apologies, expressed “deep remorse” and a “heartfelt apology” for the “tremendous damage” inflicted.

“I expect a summit meeting between Japan and China to take place in the not so distant future”. This is why Seoul needs to increase cooperation with the Japanese people who put peace and human rights ahead of national pride and regional hegemony, such as those who help former sex slaves and oppose nuclear energy, as well as the bill that enables Japan’s military resurgence.

The Reverend Dr Sam Wells, vicar of the church, told the congregation: “The struggles, the suffering and the sacrifice of the war in the Far East are a defining experience in our nation’s history”.

“Prime Minister Abe’s statement appears to have given Koreans just enough to work with as the two sides explore ways to try to improve ties and settle various pending issues between them”.

(CNN)The world may view August 15 as the date when World War II finally ended in Asia.

Japanese textbooks still gloss over the war. In this respect, his speech is reminiscent of the narrative provided by the Yushukan War Memorial Museum adjacent to the Yasukuni Shrine, which seeks to justify Japan’s role in the war. Abe sent a cash donation to the Yasukuni Shrine the same day as his speech.

Accordingly, the Abe statement was made a decision to be representative as the unified voice of the cabinet.

But for many, the war left a complex legacy which still lingers. Only facing up to its history can a government open up to the future. All with Hitler’s son as the symbolic head of state.

It is well remembered more than 60 years after U.S. soldiers shed blood to defend it against the communist invasion at the start of the 1950-1953 Korean War.

Prince Charles and Prime Minister David Cameron laid wreaths.