Japan’s Prime Minister Junichioro Koizumi said on Friday that with feelings of "deep remorse" and "heartfelt apology" over its wartime atrocities engraved in mind, during the ongoing opening ceremony of the ongoing Asian-African summit in Jarkata, with China’s President Hu Jintao looking on. Quote:
"Japan squarely faces these facts of history in a spirit of humility."
His confession was greeted with mixed reactions. Spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed Koizumi comments that he made in such a forum and to express such an apology while China’s ambassador to South Korea dismissed the remarks by saying that "actions are more important" than words.
Speaking after making the apology in front of world leaders, Koizumi said he would meet Hu on the sidelines of the summit, in a bid to repair ties between the Asian giants, at their worst in over 30 years. Quote:
"Nothing is produced by antagonism."
"Friendship is most important. I would like to hold the meeting from that perspective."
Meanwhile, Korea’s Digital Chosunilbo questions the sincerity of Koizumi in apologizing to China.
Outside Japan, Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi expressed deep remorse for Japan aggression against neighboring Asian countries at the Asia-Africa Summit in Jakarta on Friday.
At the same time, however, 80 Japanese lawmakers visited the Yasukuni Shrine to pay homage to the Japanese war criminals from World War II.
While I applause Koizume for the confession, the act of Japanese lawmakers visiting the "infamous shrine" (to borrow a quote from Killarkai) is no difference with painting a huge contradicted image in the air. Like what Chinese proverb says: A cat cries for a dead rat.
I believe for certain group of people, especially China’s Chinese, this confession is too trivial and they can’t agree more with that well-depicted image.
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It is indeed refreshing to read your post on this topic. Clearly, this is just one of Koizumi’s feeble tactics in an attempt to secure Japan on the UNSC. The confession is not sincere. It is more of a PR gesture to satisfy our demand for an apology. More needs to be done on Japan’s part to show their sincerity. After all, Japan stands to lose if it severes ties with China.
Bk
BK,
Don’t worry, Japan won’t secure a seat at UNSC, though US throws weight behind Japan.
Anyway, is he sincere or not, it’s yet to be known, but at least he made the confession in front of world leaders. It’s yet to be proven, but he did take the first step.
Way to go!
[...] It was only last year that the Japanese PM expressed his feelings of deep remorse and heartfelt apology. [...]