Japan Press Weekly

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2013 May 15 - 21 [HISTORY]

Abe should admit to the fact of Japan’s aggression & colonial rule: Shii

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo on May 16 said at a news conference that Prime Minister Abe Shinzo should explicitly acknowledge the fact that Japan invaded and colonized other Asian countries in the past.

Shii pointed out that Abe has persistently refused to clearly state that he will fully stand by the 1995 Murayama Statement, which states remorse for Japan’s “colonial rule and aggression” caused by its “mistaken national policy.” “No matter how many times JCP parliamentarians questioned the prime minister about the issue, he has never said he will ‘follow’ the crux of the statement,” Shii said.

The chair noted that it is obvious that Abe is still aiming to weaken the statement and replace it with a new one under the guise of a “future-oriented” outlook.

“If Abe implements such a plan, it will not only overthrow the foundation on which the postwar international politics have been shaped, but also strip Japan of its qualification as a member of the global community,” he stressed.

In conclusion, Shii demanded that the prime minister accept the most important part of the Murayama Statement as well as take back his remark that the meaning of “aggression” has yet to be defined.

Related past article:
> Abe’s intent to deny Japan’s past war of aggression invites isolation from international community [January 5, 2013]