'Historical holy war' a doomed fiasco Japan should avoid
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E-mail Xinhua, August 14, 2015
According to Japanese media, Abe's statement will express "remorse" for Japan's wartime actions, stress its pursuit of peace in the postwar era and depict a nation looking to the future. The focus of the statement will be the latter two parts while the "remorse" section may be toned down.
Former prime minister Morihiro Hosokawa, who has during his tenure unequivocally admitted to Japan's wartime crimes, said in an interview with Tokyo Shimbun that any statement that undermines the spirit of Murayama and Koizumi's statements will be detrimental.
Abe has personally visited or made ritual offerings to the Yasukuni Shrine, which honors Japan's war dead including 14 Class-A convicted WWII criminals, disavowed a universal definition for "aggression" and made remarks denying the Nanjing Massacre and the practice of wartime sexual servitude. These actions have failed to convince the world that his cabinet accepts responsibility.
His right-wing path is also followed by his cabinet.
Ruthlessly defying the sentiments of the victim countries and people, the Japanese administration has shown no sign of the considerate trait boasted to be a virtue of the Japanese nation.
American anthropologist Ruth Benedict has used the images of "the chrysanthemum and the sword" to describe Japanese culture. However, when it comes to its authority, the tranquil "chrysanthemum" has vanished with only the warmongering "sword" remaining.
WARLIKE PERILS
Abe and his administration have been in office for almost three years, during which time Japan eased its weapon export rules, increased military spending, weakened civilian control over the Self-Defense Forces (SDF), and pushed controversial security bills and amendments to its pacifist Constitution. These appear to be perilous moves to seek military power.
Japan's postwar Constitution states that "... land, sea, and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained. The right of belligerency of the state will not be recognized."
Such provisions, though having laid the political cornerstone for Japan's peace and stability and its economic takeoff, are seen by right-wing forces as shackles on the country. This situation is reminiscent of a similar situation involving Japan's military authority in the 1930s, which resented and withdrew from the disarmament agreements in the Washington Naval Treaty and the London Naval Treaty.
There are even more signs that may make people wary of a possible return by Japan to its militarism past.
By controlling public broadcaster NHK, Abe has made the organization a right-wing mouthpiece, which is not dissimilar to the wartime media frenzy for militarism in Japan.
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