Beijing: Tokyo must back words with actions By Hu Xiao (China Daily) Updated: 2005-08-16 06:03
"It is also the political foundation of improving Sino-Japanese ties," he
said.
|
A
group of Taiwanese women forced to work as sex slaves during World War II,
along with their supporters, throw their fists in the air while chanting
slogans during a protest outside Japan's Interchange Association office in
Taipei yesterday, demanding an official apology and compensation from
Tokyo. [AFP] | The Koizumi statement, which
the Japanese cabinet adopted earlier in the day, was the first of its kind
issued by a prime minister on the anniversary since 1995, when then Prime
Minister Tomiichi Murayama apologized for Japan's past wrongdoings for the first
time as premier.
"Our country has caused tremendous damage and pain to the peoples of many
countries, especially Asian countries, through colonial rule and invasion.
Humbly acknowledging such facts of history, I once again reflect most deeply and
offer apologies from my heart as well as express my condolences to all the
victims of the last major war both in and out of the country," Koizumi said.
Japanese Emperor Akihito yesterday also expressed hopes that Japan will never
again wage war.
"Looking back on history, I ardently hope that the horrors of war will never
be repeated," the emperor said at a memorial service.
On the same day, Japanese Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura underscored the
importance of Japan and its Asian neighbours establishing better ties.
Relations between China and Japan have soured recently, mainly because of
Tokyo's efforts to whitewash wartime history.
Japan's education ministry's approval of a nationalist-written history
textbook that plays down Japan's aggressive past, and Koizumi's annual visits to
the Yasukuni Shrine, have sparked strong protests from Asian countries including
China and the Republic of Korea.
|
| | Chimpanzee suffers from smoking addiction | | | | | The tide is high but they're holding on | | | | | China, Russia military drills stage landing | | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Today's
Top News |
|
|
|
Top China
News |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|