Taiwan demands Japan's apology, compensation to WWII 'comfort women'

TAIPEI - Taiwan urged Japan to apologize and compensate Taiwanese women who were forced into sex slavery during World War II following Monday's deal between Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) on the issue.

Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou told media that Taiwan authorities have always demanded an apology from the Japanese government to "comfort women" in Taiwan and for compensation.

Justice should be served and the dignity of these women should be respected, Ma said.

The ROK and Japan on Monday reached an agreement on Japan's wartime sex slavery of Korean women during WWII as Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made an official apology for the atrocities. Japan also promised to offer 1 billion yen ($8.3 million dollars) from its government coffers to help the ROK establish a foundation supporting the former sex slaves.

David Lin, the island's chief official in charge of external affairs, said in another press conference that Taiwan will continue to negotiate with Japan to protect rights and interests of the female victims.

Eric Chu, chairman of the island's ruling Kuomintang (KMT), expressed his regret that Japan has not offered the same treatment to Taiwan victims of sex slavery in WWII.

Japan should not treat Taiwan differently on this issue and must give Taiwanese a satisfactory explanation, he said.

Around 2,000 Taiwanese women were forced into becoming sex slaves during WWII, according to the Taipei Women's Rescue Foundation. The foundation has identified 58 of them but now only four are still alive.

A group of nine Taiwanese "comfort women" filed a lawsuit in Tokyo against the Japanese government in 1998 but they lost the case in 2005.