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Japan WW2: PM Shinzo Abe expresses 'profound grief' Japan WW2: PM Shinzo Abe expresses 'profound grief'
(about 2 hours later)
Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has expressed "profound grief" over his country's actions in World War Two.Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has expressed "profound grief" over his country's actions in World War Two.
In a statement marking 70 years since Japan's WW2 surrender, he upheld apologies and expressions of remorse made by past governments, but did not issue a new formal apology of his own.In a statement marking 70 years since Japan's WW2 surrender, he upheld apologies and expressions of remorse made by past governments, but did not issue a new formal apology of his own.
He added that future generations should not "be predestined to apologise".He added that future generations should not "be predestined to apologise".
The speech has been closely watched by Asian countries amid concerns he would play down Japan's wartime atrocities.The speech has been closely watched by Asian countries amid concerns he would play down Japan's wartime atrocities.
China and South Korea in particular suffered extensively under Japanese wartime occupation, and say Japan has never fully atoned for its actions.China and South Korea in particular suffered extensively under Japanese wartime occupation, and say Japan has never fully atoned for its actions.
The many ways to say 'sorry' in Japanese
Why are Japan's apologies forgotten?
Why is Japan's WW2 surrender still a sensitive subject?
Analysis: Rupert Wingfield-Hayes, BBC News, TokyoAnalysis: Rupert Wingfield-Hayes, BBC News, Tokyo
Mr Abe walked a careful line, maintaining previous apologies, but also saying future generations should not have to go on apologising endlessly.Mr Abe walked a careful line, maintaining previous apologies, but also saying future generations should not have to go on apologising endlessly.
He did not deviate from the now standard wording of Japan's official apology, but also sought to cast Japan's 20th Century history as anti-colonial.He did not deviate from the now standard wording of Japan's official apology, but also sought to cast Japan's 20th Century history as anti-colonial.
Japan's defeat of Russia in 1905 had, he said, encouraged many people under colonial rule from Asia to Africa.Japan's defeat of Russia in 1905 had, he said, encouraged many people under colonial rule from Asia to Africa.
He also made it clear he thinks the world cannot continue demanding apologies from Japan forever.He also made it clear he thinks the world cannot continue demanding apologies from Japan forever.
Mr Abe said that Japan had inflicted "immeasurable damage and suffering" on "innocent people" during the war.Mr Abe said that Japan had inflicted "immeasurable damage and suffering" on "innocent people" during the war.
"Japan has repeatedly expressed the feelings of deep remorse and heartfelt apology for its actions during the war," he said."Japan has repeatedly expressed the feelings of deep remorse and heartfelt apology for its actions during the war," he said.
"Such position articulated by the previous cabinets will remain unshakeable into the future," the official translation of his remarks said."Such position articulated by the previous cabinets will remain unshakeable into the future," the official translation of his remarks said.
He stressed that Japan's post-war generations, which made up more than 80% of the population, had "nothing to do with that war". But he added that the Japanese still had to "squarely face the history of the past".He stressed that Japan's post-war generations, which made up more than 80% of the population, had "nothing to do with that war". But he added that the Japanese still had to "squarely face the history of the past".
Mr Abe is under pressure not only to avoid angering China and South Korea, important regional allies, but also to satisfy domestic nationalists who have grown uneasy with the repeated demands that they apologise for historic decisions.Mr Abe is under pressure not only to avoid angering China and South Korea, important regional allies, but also to satisfy domestic nationalists who have grown uneasy with the repeated demands that they apologise for historic decisions.
He did not directly refer to the women, known as comfort women, who were forced to be sex slaves for Japanese soldiers during the war, but said that "the dignity and honour of many women were severely injured during wars in the 20th Century".He did not directly refer to the women, known as comfort women, who were forced to be sex slaves for Japanese soldiers during the war, but said that "the dignity and honour of many women were severely injured during wars in the 20th Century".
The many ways to say 'sorry' in Japanese Reaction from around the region
Why are Japan's apologies forgotten? BBC's Stephen Evans in South Korea
Why is Japan's WW2 surrender still a sensitive subject? The main news agency which supplies the country's newspapers with information said: "Abe skips his own apology for Japan's wartime past".
It noted that he had maintained previous expressions of "deep remorse and heartfelt apology" but added that he didn't offer his own apology clearly, even as he expressed "profound regret" for the dead of war.
The tone of the comment is that Prime Minister Abe has not changed his stance - a stance which many South Koreans found unacceptable.
This past week one Korean protester set fire to himself outside the Japanese embassy in Seoul. Mr Abe's speech is unlikely to have defused that kind of street anger.
Vincent Ni, BBC Chinese Service
Abe's speech was one of the most discussed topics on Weibo, China's equivalent to Twitter. Reaction was mixed among the 30,000 plus tweets, but the overwhelming majority seemed to feel that the Japanese PM's speech was "not genuine".
"Does Abe mean Japan is no longer responsible for its war atrocities? Do they no longer have to pay for what they did in the past? Perhaps many young people will think like this, but those comfort women wouldn't agree," wrote one user.
But another was more sympathetic to Japan. "We always hope Japan to do this and that, but why don't we make more efforts ourselves and improve our own country?"
In 1995, then Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama issued a landmark apology offering a "heartfelt apology" and expressing "deep remorse" for Japan's "colonial rule and aggression".In 1995, then Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama issued a landmark apology offering a "heartfelt apology" and expressing "deep remorse" for Japan's "colonial rule and aggression".
His sentiments were repeated 10 years later by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.His sentiments were repeated 10 years later by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.
Correspondents say Mr Abe's speech is likely to generate mixed reactions from China and South Korea.Correspondents say Mr Abe's speech is likely to generate mixed reactions from China and South Korea.
South Korea's main news agency, Yonhap, noted that Mr Abe had expressed "profound regret" but stopped short of making his own apology.South Korea's main news agency, Yonhap, noted that Mr Abe had expressed "profound regret" but stopped short of making his own apology.
Meanwhile, China's state news agency Xinhua criticised Mr Abe for making a "tuned-down apology".Meanwhile, China's state news agency Xinhua criticised Mr Abe for making a "tuned-down apology".
His speech comes weeks after Japan's lower house approved bills that would change the country's security laws and enable its forces to fight overseas for the first time since WW2.His speech comes weeks after Japan's lower house approved bills that would change the country's security laws and enable its forces to fight overseas for the first time since WW2.
The prime minister has pushed for the changes, but polls show more than half of Japanese citizens oppose them.The prime minister has pushed for the changes, but polls show more than half of Japanese citizens oppose them.