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China media prods Japan to make ‘heartfelt’ apology over wartime past

March 10, 2015
Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel speaks during a joint press conference with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at Prime Minister's official Residence in Tokyo, Monday, March 9, 2015. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)

Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel speaks during a joint press conference with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at Prime Minister’s official Residence in Tokyo, Monday, March 9, 2015. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)

BEIJING, March 10 (Yonhap) — Japan must learn from Germany and heal the damage and suffering it inflicted on its neighbors during World War II with a “heartfelt” apology, a newspaper published by China’s ruling Communist Party said Tuesday.

The state-run Global Times said in an editorial that Germany could regain its national dignity by squarely facing up to its wartime atrocities, but Japan’s global reputation is being eroded by its refusal to follow the path of Germany.

The editorial came as German Chancellor Angela Merkel, on her visit to Tokyo, reminded Japan of the need to face up to history and called for Japan to resolve a long-standing grievance regarding women forced to serve as sexual slaves for its military during the war.

According to historians, up to 200,000 women, mostly Korean but also Chinese and other Asian, were coerced into sexual servitude at front-line Japanese brothels during the war. Those sex slaves were euphemistically described by the Japanese military as “comfort women.”

Hailing Merkel’s remarks in Japan, the Chinese paper said, “Apology and redemption did not embarrass Germany. On the contrary, it helps Germany redeem its dignity. But the same problem has become a killer of Japan’s reputation, which has become increasingly notorious due to its lack of heartfelt apologies and even denial of its crimes.”

“Therefore, China and South Korea are forced to be mired in this endless squabble over history with Japan. The entire Northeast Asia is stirred into a tempest, and it will cost Japan the most,” it said.

Later this year, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will deliver a much-anticipated speech marking the 70th anniversary of Japan’s surrender in the war.

South Korea and China, which were both invaded by Japan during the war, have urged Tokyo to stick to its past apologies amid right-wing moves in the country to try to dilute such apologies for wartime atrocities.

“Neither China nor South Korea intends to stigmatize Japan for its past atrocities, and Japan had better stop being paranoid and bringing disgrace upon its own head. Northeast Asia needs to work together to settle the issue and move on,” the editorial said.

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