Abe says he follows Murayama's statement on view of wartime history

Japan's new prime minister Shinzo Abe said Monday that on the view of Japan's wartime history, he will follow the 1995 statement made by the then premier Tomiichi Murayama who apologized and expressed remorse for Japan's colonial rule and atrocities before and during the war.

Abe made the remark in response to a question from opposition Democratic Party of Japan Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama in a parliament's lower house session.

In 1995, the then Prime Minister Murayama Tomiichi stated on the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II: "Japan, following a mistaken national policy, advanced along the road to war, only to ensnare the Japanese people in a fateful crisis, and, through its colonial rule and aggression, caused tremendous damage and suffering to the people of many countries, particularly to those of Asian nations... [I] express here once again my feelings of deep remorse and state my heartfelt apology."

However, as to the inquiry of his views on the responsibility of Class-A war criminals as war leaders, Abe avoided a clear answer.

The premier said he believed there are various opinions in the debate as to the responsibilities of wartime leaders and that it is "inappropriate for the government to make a specific judgment" regarding the responsibilities of Class-A war criminals as leaders.

Abe, who took office last Tuesday, also shunned away the question on visiting the war-linked Yasukuni Shrine. He said that he will not make public whether or not he will go to the shrine and whether or not he had gone there.

The Shinto shrine honors 14 top war criminals along with over 2 million war dead.

During the session, Abe also mentioned that China is an important country and that he would strive to repair ties with China and South Korea.

Source: Xinhua