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March 7, 2007
China Stresses Ties With Japan Despite Sex Slavery Issue
By JIM YARDLEY
BEIJING, March 6 — China’s foreign minister on Tuesday urged Japan to accept responsibility for its use of “comfort women” sex slaves in World War II but made clear that the issue would not dampen China’s desire to strengthen ties between the countries.
The comments by the minister, Li Zhaoxing, were China’s first official response since Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan caused international outrage last week by denying that Japanese soldiers had forced foreign women into sexual slavery during the war.
Mr. Abe said no evidence existed to prove that Japanese soldiers had coerced the women — a statement that contradicted Japan’s official position.
Mr. Abe has backpedaled, but such inflammatory statements have often paralyzed relations between Japan and China. Repeated visits by his predecessor, Junichiro Koizumi, to the Yasukuni Shrine honoring Japan’s war dead, including war criminals from World War II, so incensed China that top leaders refused to hold summit meetings with him.
But Mr. Li’s comments suggested that China was eager to continue the warming trend in relations with Japan that began when Mr. Abe succeeded Mr. Koizumi last fall and then quickly made a breakthrough visit to Beijing.
“Lasting friendship between the peoples of China and Japan is the path we should stay firmly on, and no one can stop us from doing this,” Mr. Li said at a news conference held as part of the meeting of China’s National People’s Congress, the Communist Party-run legislature.
Mr. Li noted that 2007 is the 35th anniversary of the resumption of diplomatic relations between the countries. Prime Minister Wen Jiabao of China is set to visit Japan next month for a meeting with Mr. Abe, the first such visit in seven years.
“We should take in hand this important opportunity to develop China-Japan relations,” Mr. Li said of the anniversary. He said China would welcome an amicable settlement of its dispute with Japan over oil and gas rights in the East China Sea.
“We’re willing to strengthen cooperation with Japan in every sphere,” Mr. Li said.
Japan conquered large swaths of China in World War II and maintained a brutal occupation until its ultimate defeat. The two countries have extensive economic ties but otherwise relations have been tense, in large part because of Japan’s wartime legacy, of which sex slaves are one chapter.
Historians say about 200,000 women from Korea, China, Taiwan, the Philippines and other countries worked in Japanese military brothels. Japan had denied that the military was involved in the brothels until 1992, when a Japanese historian unearthed official documents revealing that soldiers had coerced women into prostitution.
But the issue remained in dispute in Japanese political circles, and Mr. Abe’s statements suggested that he was siding with conservatives who argued that there was no evidence that proved the military had forced women into sexual slavery. He spoke during a debate in the United States House of Representatives over a resolution demanding that Tokyo apologize and acknowledge the military’s role in prostitution.
On Tuesday, Mr. Li said Japan “should stand up to this part of history, take responsibility and seriously view and properly handle this issue.” He called the “forced use” of the women a “historical fact” and “one of the most serious crimes committed by the Japanese imperialists in World War II.”
Yet Mr. Li’s tone was measured and not provocative. He described his warm reception in Japan on a recent visit to prepare for the trip next month by Mr. Wen. He predicted that visit would be a success.
On other matters, Mr. Li urged a peaceful resolution to the Iranian nuclear issue and called on Iran to expand cooperation with inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency. “We welcome, support and call upon Iran to step up cooperation” with the agency he said.
China Stresses Ties With Japan Despite Sex Slavery Issue
By JIM YARDLEY
BEIJING, March 6 — China’s foreign minister on Tuesday urged Japan to accept responsibility for its use of “comfort women” sex slaves in World War II but made clear that the issue would not dampen China’s desire to strengthen ties between the countries.
The comments by the minister, Li Zhaoxing, were China’s first official response since Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan caused international outrage last week by denying that Japanese soldiers had forced foreign women into sexual slavery during the war.
Mr. Abe said no evidence existed to prove that Japanese soldiers had coerced the women — a statement that contradicted Japan’s official position.
Mr. Abe has backpedaled, but such inflammatory statements have often paralyzed relations between Japan and China. Repeated visits by his predecessor, Junichiro Koizumi, to the Yasukuni Shrine honoring Japan’s war dead, including war criminals from World War II, so incensed China that top leaders refused to hold summit meetings with him.
But Mr. Li’s comments suggested that China was eager to continue the warming trend in relations with Japan that began when Mr. Abe succeeded Mr. Koizumi last fall and then quickly made a breakthrough visit to Beijing.
“Lasting friendship between the peoples of China and Japan is the path we should stay firmly on, and no one can stop us from doing this,” Mr. Li said at a news conference held as part of the meeting of China’s National People’s Congress, the Communist Party-run legislature.
Mr. Li noted that 2007 is the 35th anniversary of the resumption of diplomatic relations between the countries. Prime Minister Wen Jiabao of China is set to visit Japan next month for a meeting with Mr. Abe, the first such visit in seven years.
“We should take in hand this important opportunity to develop China-Japan relations,” Mr. Li said of the anniversary. He said China would welcome an amicable settlement of its dispute with Japan over oil and gas rights in the East China Sea.
“We’re willing to strengthen cooperation with Japan in every sphere,” Mr. Li said.
Japan conquered large swaths of China in World War II and maintained a brutal occupation until its ultimate defeat. The two countries have extensive economic ties but otherwise relations have been tense, in large part because of Japan’s wartime legacy, of which sex slaves are one chapter.
Historians say about 200,000 women from Korea, China, Taiwan, the Philippines and other countries worked in Japanese military brothels. Japan had denied that the military was involved in the brothels until 1992, when a Japanese historian unearthed official documents revealing that soldiers had coerced women into prostitution.
But the issue remained in dispute in Japanese political circles, and Mr. Abe’s statements suggested that he was siding with conservatives who argued that there was no evidence that proved the military had forced women into sexual slavery. He spoke during a debate in the United States House of Representatives over a resolution demanding that Tokyo apologize and acknowledge the military’s role in prostitution.
On Tuesday, Mr. Li said Japan “should stand up to this part of history, take responsibility and seriously view and properly handle this issue.” He called the “forced use” of the women a “historical fact” and “one of the most serious crimes committed by the Japanese imperialists in World War II.”
Yet Mr. Li’s tone was measured and not provocative. He described his warm reception in Japan on a recent visit to prepare for the trip next month by Mr. Wen. He predicted that visit would be a success.
On other matters, Mr. Li urged a peaceful resolution to the Iranian nuclear issue and called on Iran to expand cooperation with inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency. “We welcome, support and call upon Iran to step up cooperation” with the agency he said.
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