On March 14th, in Japanese Diet,
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe claimed that Japanese government would not
revise a Landmark 1993 as “Kono statement” that confessed and apologized for
forcing women, mainly Korean, to be sex slaves in history of World War II
period. This was the first time that Mr. Abe’s government endorsed the apology
for this problem.
The
Kono Statement of 1993 gave brief admission that the Japanese military played a
significant role to require “comfort women” to serve as prostitutes for
soldiers. In declaration by Mr. Abe on Friday, he showed great regret and
sorrow in reaffirming the previous apology.
From
this, President Park Geun-hye of South Korea positively evaluated Mr. Abe’s
action that uphold previous apology. President Park stated that it was glad to
hear that Japanese attitude would not amend the apology. Till today, President Park has
refused to have a summit talk with Japanese government about damaged comfort women in
Korea. However, from Prime Minister Abe’s action that aimed to improve present
relationship between Japan and Korea and persuaded Korea to have an opportunity to talk with Japanese, it is now predicted that Korea would accept
to have a talk with Japan.
However, Nihon Keizai Shimbun (literally Japan Economic Times Company)
reported that Japanese government still keep its attitude to inspect the
process of creating Kono Statement. In Korea, there are some voices that doubts
whether Japan would water down the Kono Statement itself. Nihon Keizai Shimbun
stated whether Korea accepts summit talk with Japan depends on Korean public
opinion, and also stated that it is possible that Korea government would harden
its attitude and summit talk would not be realized.
Mr. Abe’s statement that Japanese government would uphold Kono Statement
was the first step to improve tense relationship between Japan and Korea and
also was the first step to conduct valuable Public Diplomacy between Japan and
Korea. However, whether this action became successful or not depends on future
action of both Japan and Korea.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/15/world/asia/japan-prime-minister-says-he-will-not-revise-1993-apology-to-wartime-prostitutes.html?_r=0
http://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXNASGM15029_V10C14A3MM8000/?dg=1 (Written in Japanese)
http://guardianlv.com/2014/03/japan-war-sex-slaves-apology-upheld/
I believe China has expressed similar grievances with Japan in regard to Japan's role in World War II. The Rape of Nanking is one of the most horrific memories in Chinese history. However, before I continue I would like to disclose that I have only studied the Chinese and Korean perspective of this history. I have yet to learn of the Japanese point of view. Regardless, I am afraid that China and Japan have too damaged of a past to make progress like that of Japan and Korea. World War II was not the first time the two countries had been at odds nor was it the last. In the years following the war, the Japanese government refused to acknowledge that the Nanking Massacre had even occurred. While Japan issued the Kono Statement in 1993 apologizing for the atrocities committed against women in the countries Japan invaded, high-ranking officials in Japan continue to deny the carnage of Nanking to this day. Yes, the Kono Statement was a step in the right direction, but this action rang hollow with the Chinese government and people. If Japan has any hope of normalizing relations with China, then it will have to make a much grander and more sincere gesture of apology.
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