Difference Matters

In the speech commemorating the sixtieth anniversary of Bandung Asia-Africa Conference in 1955, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made a speech to the world that Japan would be contributing peace and prosperity in forward looking manner. On the recognition of history during and after Second World War, he expressed “deep remorse” without mentioning “aggression” or “apology.” So, what did he want to say about the remorse?

His speech was focused by some countries as a draft of his speech in United States Congress later this month or seventieth anniversary statement in this summer. In his address in Jakarta, Abe stressed injustice of unilateral advance with military power, based on his recognition of power projection of China in East and Southeast Asia. “We should never allow to go unchecked the use of force by the mightier to twist the weaker around,” told Abe.

The possible question was “So, what did Japan do in the war?” That was because he needed to say something about the deed of Japan in the war. “And Japan, with feelings of deep remorse over the past war, made a pledge to remain a nation always adhering to those very principles throughout, no matter what the circumstances,” said Abe in the speech, partly following the phrase in Murayama Statement in 1995.

But the point was not about “deep remorse.” It was whether Abe would recognize the history as Japan’s aggression and apologize about it, which both Murayama Statement and Koizumi Statement in 2005 included. Abe rejected that. He just expressed “feelings of deep remorse over the past war.” It was unclear which aspect of the war did he feel remorse. Was it the decision of opening war against United States, maneuvers by military section of the government of Imperial Japan, or something else? The biggest problem of his speech in Jakarta was that he invited new skepticism on his remorse over Japan’s aggression, which had already been a fixed concept among historians.

China and South Korea was apparently not satisfied with Abe’s speech. South Korean Spokesman for Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed “deep regret” on Abe speech. “We hope Japan to be careful about concerns of the countries around and deliver message directly facing the history,” told Chinese Foreign Minister, Wan Yi. Abe’s speech seemed to have achieved nothing in the relationship with those important neighbors.

Very next day of Abe speech, three ministers of Abe Cabinet visited Yasukuni War Shrine, irritating China and South Korea again. Abe made no effort to refrain them from visiting the shrine, in spite of his authority to do that. Lack of seriousness for improving the relationship disturbs the efforts of ordinary citizens to be closer each other.