Abe's sleight of tongue cannot hide truth

Filipina "comfort woman" Estelita Dy, 89, demands in Manila on Friday an apology from Japan for the treatment of women who were forced to work in brothels during the war. ROMEO RANOCO/REUTERS

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe did not offer fresh apology for Japan's war crimes in his statement marking the 70th anniversary of World War II on Friday.

After the war, Japan was the first Asian country to become a major power. Japan has stronger national power, a more developed economy, and unparallel advantages in technology and industry compared with its Asian neighbors, which constitute the foundation for Abe's audacity in understating Japan's war crimes in his statement.

No Asian country has the ability to take action to require Japan to compensate for its war crimes. China implements the principle of "returning good for evil" in exchange for Japan's deep reflection on history as a means to reconciliation. However, that principle is not working well.

Many Japanese politicians see China as a market, but not an equal political partner. They have never regarded China as a victorious nation. China has not had the ability, till now, to change that mentality and its consequences, apart from complaining and blaming. Shelving disputes for common development is a makeshift compromise by China as a result of its unfavorable power comparison with Japan.

The Korean War in the early 1950s boosted the fast recovery of Japanese industry. The huge success of Japan's economy and the United States' continued support give it the courage to ignore the feelings of people in other Asian nations when it comes to its actions prior to and during WWII. Japan's war criminals are still worshipped at the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo as Japan's heroes.

Abe invited historians to participate in the drafting of his statement, because he was seeking to ease tensions with neighbors, while not influencing his political prospects at home. It was almost predictable that his statement would be pleasant to the ears, but hard to the heart. However, a heartfelt apology does not need beautiful language, yet it speaks to all. Abe exhausted every rhetorical trick to disguise his lack of sincerity in apologizing for Japan's war crimes.

Abe said in his statement: "In Japan, the postwar generations now exceed eighty per cent of its population. We must not let our children, grandchildren, and even further generations to come, who have nothing to do with that war, be predestined to apologize." This misleading point of view, a disguised replacement of concept, equates Japan's war crimes as a state with the crimes of Japanese civilians, so shirking its responsibility as a state for its injuring of many, including its own people.

Japan has intentionally made itself a victim of the war through the annual memorial activities marking the dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the air raids on Tokyo. Abe's statement clearly carries on this intention, and was actually an attempt to reshape Japanese people's views on history.

What Abe should talk about is the responsibility of Japan as a state, rather than individual responsibility. It is ridiculous for him to try to evade Japan's war crimes through emphasizing the changes in Japan's demographic structure.

All peace-loving people, including Japanese people, should remain clearheaded and vigilant and aware of the tricks behind Abe's carefully-worded performance, which continued the infamous tradition of Japan's politicians since early last century whenever they have sought to challenge the international order.

A look at what Japan is doing under Abe administration, revising the Pacifist Constitution and expanding its armed forces reveals the true meaning behind Abe's eloquence.

But what is done cannot be undone, no matter how evasive Abe is about his country's past, Japan's war crimes have been permanently nailed to the shameful pole of history.

Asian countries and people should realize that it is impossible to correct Japan's views on history through only blame, or compromise. The best way for Asian neighbors to rectify Japan's distorted historical views and let it reflect deeply on its war crimes is to unite together and develop themselves into stronger peace-loving countries than Japan.

The author is a researcher in law at Zhongnan University of Economics and Law in Wuhan.