US must not ignore Abe's insult to history

Moreover, in a TV interview on April 20, he said it is not necessary to repeat the wordings of apology for Japan’s wartime actions, as he will “uphold” the statements made by previous Japanese prime ministers, including Tomiichi Murayama’s heartfelt apology in 1995.

So what will Abe focus on in his Washington speech? Apparently, Japan’s postwar accomplishments and interests, that is, reconciliation and alliance with the US, and its contribution to the world peace and prosperity. His remarks in Jakarta, seen by many as a prelude to his Aug 15 statement, suggest he is unlikely to genuinely reflect on Japan’s war crimes.

Abe’s “obsession” with the future has been criticized by many even in Japan. On April 21, Murayama said Abe does not want to acknowledge Japan’s colonial rule and aggression, which explains “why he wants to refrain from repeating those wordings, as well as why people are closely watching the tone of the statement”. And a day earlier, Katsuya Okada, leader of the opposition Democratic Party of Japan, urged Abe to be careful “to ensure that he does not give an impression that the Japanese understanding of the past has not moved backward”.

Since the US administration has invited Abe to address at the Congress, making him the first Japanese prime minister to do so, it could turn a blind eye to his distorted perception of Japan’s shameful past for the sake of strategic interests. But being a responsible global leader, the US is also obliged to keep Japan on the right track of history.

The author is a researcher in Japan studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.