Taiwan to Seek Japanese Apology, Redress to Comfort Women

Taipei, Dec. 29 (Jiji Press)--Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou urged his government on Tuesday to hold negotiations with Japan to demand the country offer an official apology and compensation to wartime "comfort women" in Taiwan. Ma instructed Ssu-Tsun Shen, representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Japan, to hold talks with Japanese government officials so that former Taiwanese comfort women can be treated in a similar way to how such women in South Korea will be dealt with under a Tokyo-Seoul agreement announced the previous day. Ma told local media that his government has never changed its position of urging Japan to make an apology and pay damages to former Taiwanese comfort women, who were forced to serve as prostitutes for Japanese troops before and during World War II, in order to restore their justice and dignity. According to Taiwan's President Office, Ma developed a strong interest in the comfort women issue when he served as justice minister some 20 years ago. Ma has continued his personal support for former comfort women by making donations to a support group for them. He has invited former comfort women to the presidential office more than once. According to the support group, four such women are alive. At a press conference on Tuesday, Taiwanese Foreign Minister David Lin disclosed that his ministry has communicated with Japan's Foreign Ministry regarding the Taiwanese demands. Lin said he hopes that Japan will put emphasis on the Taiwanese government's position and that negotiations will move forward further at an early date. END