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2nd LD Writethru: Panel report mentions Japan's aggression, colonial rule, but no words on apology

Xinhua, August 6, 2015 Adjust font size:

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 the prime minister should apologize for the atrocities in his upcoming statement.

The 38-page report was filed to Abe 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 16-member panel questioned the definition of "aggression,"according to the report in its notes.

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.

The panel said in the report that reconciliation between Japan and China, although without"fully reconciliation,"reached phased achievement, but reconciling efforts with South Korea encountered difficulties as South Korean government"finds no significance in dealing with Japan rationally."

The report said that Japan has reconciled with the United States, Australia, European and Southeast Asian countries in the past 70 years.

The report said that Japan escalated its aggression against the Asian continent and colonial rule on the Korean Peninsular since 1931 and the war caused great damage to the victim countries, adding that the country has totally changed based on "deep remorse. "

The report also claimed that Japan should contribute more to world stability by enhancing education on modern and contemporary history and engaging in further study on world and Asian history.

Japan should also shoulder greater responsibility for peace and prosperity in Asia through improved security bills, according to the report. Endi