Japan stands by 1993 apology
POSTED: 0802 GMT (1602 HKT), March 7, 2007
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TOKYO, Japan (Reuters) -- Japan, under diplomatic fire for appearing to sidestep responsibility for forcing women to act as wartime sex slaves for its soldiers, said on Wednesday that the government stood by a 1993 apology acknowledging coercion.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe stirred anger in China, Taiwan and South Korea with remarks last week appearing to question the state's role in forcing the mostly Asian women to act as prostitutes during World War Two, although he also said the earlier apology stood.

The apology, known as the "Kono Statement" after then-chief cabinet secretary Yohei Kono, in whose name it was issued, acknowledged the Japanese military's role in setting up and running wartime brothels as well the fact that many of the women were taken to and kept in the brothels against their will.

"The government stands by the Kono Statement, including its recognition of coercion," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki told a news conference. "Recent comments by the prime minister show this stance will not change."

Abe touched off additional protests when he said on Monday that Japan would not apologize again over the sex-slave issue, even if U.S. lawmakers adopt a resolution calling for an apology.

The non-binding resolution introduced by U.S. Congressman Michael Honda, a California Democrat, calls on Japan to unambiguously apologize for the suffering that thousands of Asian women, many Korean, endured at the hands of its Imperial Army.

Despite the government apology, reference to "comfort women" -- Japan's euphemism for wartime sex slaves -- was deleted from many school textbooks in 2005, and some lawmakers in Abe's ruling party say that the 1993 statement should be watered down.

South Korea has expressed outrage over Abe's remarks and on Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing urged Japan to confront its past on the topic and accept responsibility while Taiwan called on Japan to apologize and compensate the women.

'Comfort women' protest
Elderly South Korean women who had served as "comfort women" protested on Wednesday in front of the Japanese embassy in Seoul, while in Tokyo members of a women's group gathered near parliament to lambast Abe's remarks and show solidarity with the victims.

Around 30 women gathered in Sydney to wave red paper butterflies with the words "Break the silence. Bring justice to comfort women."

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte, visiting Seoul on Tuesday, noted that Japan had apologized in the past.

But an editorial in the New York Times blasted Tokyo for what it termed "efforts to contort the truth" -- an attack that was featured on Japanese news programs.

Shiozaki sought to allay concern that Abe's refusal to apologize again contradicted the spirit of the 1993 statement.

"Parts of the resolution are not based on objective fact, and it does not include what the government has done up to now, so that's why the prime minister has said Japan will not apologize again -- a view that does not contradict the statement at all," he said, adding that the intensifying debate was not constructive.

"The longer this discussion goes on, the more misunderstandings there are likely to be," Shiozaki said.

Abe, who wants to rewrite Japan's pacifist constitution and restore a sense of pride in the nation's past, upset core conservative supporters when he softened his stance on wartime history after taking office last September.

That shift was generally seen as an effort to smooth the way for summits with China and South Korea to improve ties that had chilled under his predecessor, Junichiro Koizumi.

Analysts have said Abe's recent comments were intended to bolster his core conservative support at a time when his popularity ratings among voters generally have slumped.

"There is no evidence to back up that there was coercion as defined initially," he told reporters on Thursday, apparently referring to accusations that the Imperial Army had kidnapped women and put them in brothels to serve soldiers.

Abe told parliament on Monday that there seemed to have been some cases of coercion, such as by middlemen, but he said that officials had not broken into peoples' homes and kidnapped women.

Some experts say that not all or even most of the women were physically coerced, but they say that does not absolve the Japanese government of responsibility for their suffering.

Copyright 2007 Reuters. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/...reut/index.html

The only possibility that Japanese would bow down to Chinese is that Chinese civilisation had surpass Japan
, like the ancient time ( which alomst subdue them in every dimension ) , besides that , I dont see Japan would anyhow bow to CHinese , especailly about the WWII .

^ That's right. The only thing that would humble Japan is POWER. All the protests and demands for apologies are just meaningless nonsense.

Japan did not surrender or bow down the the U.S. until the US had nuked it twice. That's POWER. That's the sole and only reason Japan surrendered, regardless of what the Japanese revisionists claim.

those politicians always doing the same WW2 excuses. but the war is toally over and japan and china are formally in peace situation. in school studied it, and it was bad history, but we have our life to live now in the PRESENT you know, not the past! but still we are paying money for it even if I was not born in that time. even my father was not born in that time. but my our tax money is going to china! stupid! they are extorting the japanese peoples tax money. the government just gives our money to china everytime they complain. gives free scholar ship to chinese students in japan and pays all their food, house, books, free everything. when some japanese students cant even afford to go to university. but chinese just keep their negative propaganda about japan for money. ridiculous.

^ Too bad. Tell your ancestors to stop rummaging through other countries then.

nice i have lured a stupid chinese nationalist into my trap . you are probably racist too right .

lets analyze your bull$hit racist propaganda to expose your brainwashing.



this quote from the above nationalist chinese is a good example of historical brainwashing that is probably from hearing many horror stories from old chinese grandfathers or something. plus the political propaganda called the "chinese textbooks" that like to maintain "bad japan" theme.

basically these stupid chinese nationalists are brainwashed. the biggest evidence is INABILITY TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN PAST AND PRESENT its like a big evidence so you can spot them.



in fact "TELL" is a PRESENT tense command. Ancestors are DEAD people in the PAST. But the chinese racist wants me to do a PRESENT ACTION about interaction with PAST people who NO LONGER EXIST.

Wow he has no logic!

Ok next part.



Even ancestors have alread DIED in the PAST and NO LONGER EXIST, but chinese nationalist dude wants them to "STOP RUMMAGING THROUGH".. but this is a command for present day action.

See what a simple text analysis of stupid nationalist and racist chinese person's one stupid little sentence can easily reveal.

Chinese racist nationalist dude is ILLOGICAL, IRRATIONAL, suffers from CONFUSION of PAST and PRESENT. which is influenced by his UNCONTROLLED EMOTIONS that he got from looking at too many bad old war pictures and reading bad war books and listen to grandfathers bad war story... Plus the racist propaganda of CHinese textbooks that he got brainwashed from Chinese school.


These stupid small brain chinese racist guys are totally indoctinated, and in fact are victims of their own sick japan-bashing obsession.

but thats what RACISM and NATIONALISM is about!

ok you lab mouse you may go back to jungle now

All right, let me explain this to you.

The future is build on the foundation of the past. Modern China and Japan are founded on the pillars of its ancient history.

To say that "the past is past" is pure ignorance. Look at China today. Are you telling me that China would be what it is if the Japanese had not invaded? Of course not.

If you continue to fail to acknowledge the crap Japan did, then you're ignoring history. If you let it drift away to be erased, what stops you from repeating it again? "Japan is different" is not an excuse for anything. You're merely forgiving yourself for past crimes.

If you really acknowledged the crimes that were committed, shouldn't you stand in solidarity with China and Korea against the past aggressors?




And think before you run your mouth. You know nothing about the members here.

Before your invasion , communist in China is on the verge of extermination by nationlist government.your invasion had saved commies , because the nationlist Chinese government get burned by fighting two fronts , both agaisnt Japan army and red army and same time . Japan had lost , nationlist chinese had lost , now commies gained power in China . thanks to your Japanese contribution , the funny thing is that the commies doesnt thank you for you to saving their azz , they are now adopt a hostile attitude agaisnt your japanese
, isnt this divine retiribution or what.



your japanese is too soft , too easy to get imposed on

My favorite quote ever fits in this conversation. Japan is the feces of asia, no one else accepts them but them. They are lower than the feces I let into my toilet.

Japanese wont bow to any one , except you beat them , show them that you are superior .
Besdies that , i dont see Japanese would bow to Chinese

@MightyCrown: You forget that the Japanese remember the atomic bombings and never want the world to forget that.

Likewise, the Chinese remember World War II atrocities, and never want the world to forget that.

I have been saying that , you know what a Japanese told me
His exact words was , yes , WWII embed in your CHinese memory , but we Japanese cant let go
of mongol invasion

Anyone is superior to these Japanese "asians". They make me physiclly sick to my stomach.

Thats true , Japanese regards themselves superior than the rest of Asians.

Thats the biggest load of monkey crap I have heard in a while they are not superior to anybody and they never will.

Are you Chinese? If so, then you should tell your politicians the same also.


Politically, the Japanese do seems to think they are superior---like the United States. You have to admit, no other countries in Asia can surpass Japan right now. China or Singapore may have a chance surpassing Japan one day in the future but not currently.

You could say whatever but our politicans or any citizens in general never invaded japan and raped innocent civilians so just shut your mouth on issues you obviously dont understand because it makes you look like an idiot which probably isnt to hard for you to begin with.

I'm thinking you have never learn history in school right? Don't tell me China has never invaded other countries. Don't tell me China has never raped innocent civilians. Don't tell me China is a saint.

Again shut your mouth! You need to learn how to read this is a thread about the freaking japanese invasion for you to bring issues into this that are totally irrelevant to the topic shows just how stupid you are. You need to sue the school who graduated your dumb a** and then jump off the bridge. If your going to comment here at least stay on tracl or if you want to make a thread talking about chinas invasion of other countries then make one somewhere else. Until then dont reply unless its related to this topic genuis. Dont try to tell me that an eye for eye justifies the japans actions in the past.

^lol

You're accusing someone else for the same crimes that you have committed. How ironic is that?

Is it alright if I call you sir dumb a** from now on because you seem to be living up to the title. Listen to me and try to understand what Im trying to say. If you want to make a thread in chinese chat about any invasions or any china related issue thats totally unrelated to this one then go ahead jerk but were discussing something thats totally unrelated right now. For you to bring into this topic chinas supposed invasion in a effort to justify or soften the crimes of the japanese invasion is utter BS. We all know you got a secret fetish for the japanese but please try to keep that to yourself were not interested in your admiration of them. And to comment on a previous comment you made we will surpass japan its not a matter of whether or not china has the best chance we are poised to overtake them but please dont think were satisfied with that were not exactly focusing on the japanese here but more of the americans. Watch the damn news and stop making stupid assumptions!

I'm not here to soften Japanese crimes. What they did was wrong but why are you acting as if you are innocent of the same crimes? Don't you see the irony that is in front of your face ?






China is planning to "overtake" Japan? It will never happen, not even in your dreams. Japan's allies will never let it happen because of economical purposes. China should worry more about feeding its people rather than trying to conquer more territories.

Oh really? It will never happen. Never is a pretty strong word will see in 10 to 15 years if your statement holds true. Our emerging as a superpower is a result of us bringing millions out of poverty. Now if you look in the past 20 years weve already made great strides and as time goes by our economy will continue to get better and the widening income gap between the rich and the poor will decrease because the government has already made a commitment to pouring billions of dollars in rural development. And china is not trying to conquer more territories unless of course your referring to tawian in which case it has always been chinas territory. Other then that give me one example of china trying to conquer more territory? Are we invading japan, korea, vietnam?

Abe's apology changes from day to day.

http://www.japantoday.com/jp/news/400608

http://www.japantoday.com/jp/news/400765

Not too many other threads can get away with saying such a racist statement and have no one question it.



I do not understand why equally racist statements are not at all brought to anyone's attention. This is why many people think some of the Chinese here are just on a Japan-bashing riot. If it were up to me, any racist comment should recieve equal criticism. This is not the case here.



If this thread is purely about Japan and their historical crimes...then yes. Every single comment not directed only towards Japan's historic crimes and how they should be ashamed today should be mentioned here. If this is the case of course.

^ lol, that guy's Mongolian

I am not Mongolian and I do not see why that is relavent.

He wasnt referring to you genius!

I am talking about racism.

You aren't very quick-witted are you? They were talking about me being mongolian.

How many more posts off the topic must we go before someone addresses the blatantly racist comments in this thread that still have not even been ackowledged?

"My favorite quote ever fits in this conversation. Japan is the feces of asia, no one else accepts them but them. They are lower than the feces I let into my toilet."
---bigmonkey2382

"Anyone is superior to these Japanese "asians". They make me physiclly sick to my stomach."
---bigmonkey2382

Not one person here has stood up against such racist remarks. How can racism be excussed and ignored so easily on a forum like this.

Because no one here likes Japan other than the three Japanese that visit.

That explains racism and does not excuss it.

What's excuss again?

"My favorite quote ever fits in this conversation. Japan is the feces of asia, no one else accepts them but them. They are lower than the feces I let into my toilet."
---bigmonkey2382

"Anyone is superior to these Japanese "asians". They make me physiclly sick to my stomach."
---bigmonkey2382

They are not excusable. (excuse) You are the individual who said both of those racist comments above. And you show no remorse. Futhermore, no one here has even challenged those statements above.

Okay, I'll re-direct those to say the Japanese government. And The 2nd one is technicly true, as MOST key word, most see themselves as different from all the rest of us from asian countries. And do you really expect people to challenge my views? 90% of the people that come here are Chinese.

Sorry for the offense.

"My favorite quote ever fits in this conversation. Japan is the feces of asia, no one else accepts them but them. They are lower than the feces I let into my toilet."
---bigmonkey2382

"Anyone is superior to these Japanese "asians". They make me physiclly sick to my stomach."
---bigmonkey2382

I believe there should always be a distinction between a government and a whole race of people. If you merely say "Japan is the feces of asia" and that japan is "lower than the feces I let into my toilet," you do not speak of government but of Japanese people in general and that is plain racism which should not be excused. To say this is your favorite quote at the same time understand it is not truely accurate is a disservice to yourself.

Your second statement seems contradictory to me because if we are all equal, than why sink down to the level you youself demonize and say basically,"actually, there are superior and inferior races. Japan is actually inferior." This kind of response is not needed. Anyone-- Chinese, Japanese or any third party can see through a statement like that and know it's wrong.

I would say most of ANY asian people think they are different from other asian communities! In fact, when someone tells an asian that we're "all the same" it offends more than it compliments from what I've observed. There are many different sub catagories on Asia Finest: Chinese, Japanese, Mongolian, Vietnamese, Korean, ETC. Every country HAS something that makes them different. And there's nothing wrong with that.

NOW, if you are impying MOST Japanese people think they are a superior asian race then I would have to argue that point. Otherwise, feeling different from other asians is not wrong. We are unique but equal. We can have pride but also respect for others.

No, just that none of us like your Japanese government, and we damned sure have a reason to. And it seems your government doesn't respect others what-so-ever. So get off your high horse and sounding like a broken record and saying the same things over and over. It's the internet, not serious business...oh wait, I guess to you it is. I gave you an appollegy which seems to be more than your government can do.

It is not my Japanese government and I said I am fine with you not liking the Japanese government.

I find it funny. Most trolls in Japan forum are Chinese. There's barely any "real" Japanese here. The only one in here are Chinese, Anime/Manga fans, Jpop lovers, or like Japan.






To make the statement true, it's not "are" but "WERE" ...

Your obviously full of s*it your tongue tied because we NEVER did. Were not talking about the past but the present!

Mike and daidai have nothing to say other than complaints, and in Mikekks case complaining about the same thing 50,000 times.

F*ck what he says he accuses the majority of people who post in here to be japanophiles but hes probably one of them characters or hardcore right wing japanese extremists posting on japantoday.com. I asked him a fairly simple question and he gave me a totally irrelevant answer which isnt even true. I asked him to give me an example of what country were trying to invade presently today and based on his pathetic answer apparantly were invading japan, korea, and vietnam right now-laugh2 Worthless douchebag.

I have only repsonses to blatent racist comments. If you dub it complaining, you are only half right. The quantity of my responses have merely matched that of your own race-based responses. I have only brought to attention two of your statements:

"My favorite quote ever fits in this conversation. Japan is the feces of asia, no one else accepts them but them. They are lower than the feces I let into my toilet."


"Anyone is superior to these Japanese "asians". They make me physiclly sick to my stomach."

Forums to most people might not be "serious business" but like I said (which you refer to being as a broken record) these explainations are not excuses for racism. They merely explain why you think making racist comments are justified.

If I heard a raicst comment about any race, I would bring it up. Not just Japanese. My friends are a wide range of different races and cultures. It makes no difference to me WHO the victim is. It does not matter HOW MANY of one race is discussing a topic either. It does not matter what MEDIUM of expression you use to say such things. It will never change the fact that comments like those you said earlier are not acceptable.

If it doesn't make a difference to you who the victim is, why are you here exactly?

I am here because that is where I am. A better question to ask is why did you make racist comments?

Nice cryptic response. Why did I? Because that's the way I feel, don't like it, choke on it.

I heard monkeys don't have a big brain---I'm afraid it's true

Do you understand what the diff. between the word "were" and "are"? Let me give you a free lecture. Were= past tense Are= present tense.

If China has the chance, their hungry appetite would invade their neighbors like they had invaded Tibet. The next target is Taiwan. China wants a big reunion but just face it, Taiwan (like Tibet) doesn't want to be part of China. Do you actually believed that more territory and more people would make China powerful? Take a look at Singapore and Japan, they are powerful and they don't need that much land or people.

See here is what Im talking about when did i ever said that acquiring more territory and invading countries made china stronger for your information let me give you a lecture now I never said that you did.

What I did ask you was to give me an example of what country china is trying to invade and you not surprisingly bring up tawian which has always been a part of china? Your basing your assumptions on "if" and "opportunity" which is not accurate at all. If you can say that then I guess I can also say japan "might" if given the opportunity try to expand there territory since they need it more but that kind of talk doesnt really help now does it? Based on past experiences japan would probably be more likely to invade if the opportunity ever came up not china. You say you they are powerful and dont need that much land or people I guess somebody forgot to tell that to japan prior to there ww2 conquest huh?