A panel to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on his war anniversary statement mentioned in its report on Thursday the country's wartime aggression and colonial rule, but stopped short of saying whether Japan should apologize for its wartime atrocities.[Special coverage]
The 38-page report was filed to Abe on Thursday afternoon, with the prime minister saying that he will convey a message to the world based on the report, referring to the statement that Abe is expected to issue on Aug. 14.
But several panelists of the 14-member panel questioned the definition of"aggression."
Abe said he would not repeat keywords like"aggression and colonial rule"and"heartfelt apology"in his statement. The wordings were used by former Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama in 1995 in his landmark statement that offered apology to Japan's Asian neighbors for its wartime barbarities.
The so-called"Abe Statement"is closely watched by its neighbors of China and South Korea as the two countries, both were victims of Japan's wartime atrocities, have constantly urged Japan to face up to its dark past so as to mend frayed ties partially due to Japanese politicians'efforts to deny or whitewash its wartime wrongdoings.
