ANOTHER “heartfelt apology” for Japan’s wartime aggression was offered by Junichiro Koizumi, the country’s Prime Minister, yesterday in the latest attempt to quell violent anti-Japanese demonstrations that have convulsed Chinese cities for three weeks.

Although the effect of Mr Koizumi’s words was offset by the visit to a nationalist war shrine by Japanese MPs, they were welcomed by the Chinese Government. Kong Quan, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, said: “Regarding 60 years ago, and the great damage [Japan] has caused in Asian countries, including China, we welcome Koizumi’s attitude.”

Mr Koizumi’s statement was similar to previous utterances by Japanese leaders and virtually identical to the words chosen by Tomiichi Murayama in August 1995. But the choice of setting — a gathering of 80 Asian and African leaders in Jakarta — represented an attempt to defuse the extreme tension of the past three weeks.

“In the past, Japan, through its colonial rule and aggression, caused tremendous damage and suffering to the people of many countries, particularly to those of Asian nations,” Mr Koizumi said. “Japan squarely faces these facts of history in a spirit of humility. And with feelings of deep remorse and heartfelt apology always engraved in mind, Japan has resolutely maintained, consistently since the end of World War II, that it will never turn into a military power.”

Last night, China had not responded officially to a Japanese request for a meeting between Mr Koizumi and President Hu Jintao. Mr Koizumi said: “Nothing is born out of antagonism. I would like to hold the talks from the viewpoint that friendship is the most important thing for the two countries.”

Developments in China over the past few days suggest that Beijing is also seeking ways to calm popular anger against Japan, without letting it rebound against the Government itself. Li Zhaoxing, the Chinese Foreign Minister, said this week: “We should not do things that are not in the interests of the motherland. We should not do anything to harm [its] image, dignity and status.”

The Chinese Government has organised public lectures in cities where demonstrations have been held, emphasising the necessity of good relations with Japan. Websites used by anti-Japanese activists have been closed down. The demonstrations are inspired by what many young Chinese regard as Japan’s impenitence for its wartime occupation.

Beginning in 1931, Japan occupied and colonised Manchuria in northeastern China and six years later invaded the rest of the country. Hundreds of thousands were massacred in Nanjing, forced to work as labourers and military prostitutes, or subjected to chemical and nerve gas in experiments.

This month’s unrest has focused on Japan’s claim to the Senkaku or Diaoyu Islands, also claimed by China and Taiwan, and on the question of who has the right to drill for natural gas around them.

There has also been anger over Tokyo’s renewed campaign for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, and about the annual visits made by Mr Koizumi to the nationalist Yasukuni shrine, where the souls of the war dead, including war criminals, are believed to dwell. Yesterday 88 members of parliament, including a Cabinet minister, visited the shrine for a spring festival.

But the trigger for the recent protests was Japan’s approval of a history textbook for schools, written by right-wing historians. It does skate over the details of Japanese wartime atrocities, but only 18 of Japan’s 11,102 junior high schools have adopted it, even though the publishers are giving it away.

Japan has never displayed the kind of profound remorse for the war expressed by German leaders. But leaders have apologised repeatedly, most strongly in a statement made ten years ago by Mr Murayama, then Prime Minister, which was the basis of Mr Koizumi’s apology yesterday.

It is the only country whose constitution outlaws force as a means of settling international disputes. Despite the existence of a small and vociferous extreme Right, many Japanese are instinctive pacifists. Japan was until recently China’s biggest provider of overseas development aid.

This last point will be particularly well understood by participants in the Asia-Africa Conference, many of whom have been beneficiaries of Japanese aid. “Japan will continue efforts towards the goal of providing official development assistance of 0.7 per cent of gross national income,” Mr Koizumi said.

Mr Li’s reference to China’s “dignity and status” seems to be a tacit admission that the demonstrations have harmed the country’s image at a time when anxiety about its increasing economic power and long-term strategic ambitions is growing around the world.

SORRY STATE OF AFFAIRS

August 1995
Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama on the 50th anniversary of Japanese surrender
“Japan, through its colonial rule and aggression, caused tremendous damage and suffering to the people of many countries, particularly those of Asia. I . . . express here deep remorse and state my heartfelt apology”

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