Japan treads carefully in WWII anniversary speech

Those were the words that China and South Korea, among other Asian nations listening intently to Shinzo Abe's speech on Friday, were waiting to hear - "heartfelt apologies," "profound grief" and "tremendous, immeasurable suffering caused by Japan."

Speaking on the eve of the 70th anniversary of Emperor Hirohito's unconditional surrender on August 15, 1945, Abe reiterated the apologetic words expressed by Japanese leaders of the past with regard to the atrocities committed by the Japanese military during World War II.

This time, though, China and Korea were fearing that Abe, known as a hawkish politician with a proclivity to downplay Japanese war actions, would venture from the remorse expressed in the past for wartime atrocities.

Abe said that those apologies were "unshakeable," but he added that Japan must "not let our children, grandchildren and even further generations to come, who have nothing to do with [WWII], be predestined to apologize for it."

Fears of revisionism

The legacy of the war still haunts relations with China and South Korea, which both suffered under Japan's brutal occupation and colonial rule before Tokyo's surrender in 1945.

Beijing and Seoul had made clear they wanted Abe to stick to landmark statements in 1995 made by Tomiichi Murayama, a former prime minister, who apologized explicitly for the suffering caused by Tokyo's "colonial rule and aggression."

"In the hope that no such mistake be made in the future, I regard, in a spirit of humility, these irrefutable facts of history, and express here once again my feelings of deep remorse and state my heartfelt apology," Murayama said 20 years ago.

All eyes - and ears - on Abe

Amid a thaw in relations with China, and ahead of a possible upcoming visit to Beijing, China was watching the speech particularly closely.

It wasn't only Beijing and Seoul that Abe was out to placate, however.

The Japanese premier was also under pressure to satisfy Washington with his remarks, i.e., not to enflame regional tensions.

"Let's face it, the audience is the United States," said Andrew Horvat, visiting professor at Josai International University in Tokyo. "If not for the United States, I think Mr. Abe would be less careful in what he says."

Abe met US ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy on Monday.

Abe's statement came as he continues to push for a more robust defense policy through measures domestic critics say violate Japan's pacifist constitution. Public doubts about the bills have triggered a slide in Abe's ratings to below 40 percent.

Washington has welcomed the changes, which Abe says are needed to meet new challenges, including a more assertive China.

glb/jil (Reuters, AP)