Abe to Mention "Aggression" in WWII Statement

Tokyo, Aug 10 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has decided to use the word "aggression" in his planned statement to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, government sources said Monday. Abe made the decision apparently to reflect the views of Komeito, the ruling coalition partner of Abe's Liberal Democratic Party, according to the sources. "Aggression" is a key word included in similar statements in the past, such as the 1995 statement by then Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama. In a report released last week, a panel advising Abe on the statement said that Japan "expanded its aggression" against Asia after the 1931 Manchurian incident in northeastern China. But the panel also noted dissenting views of some members concerning the use of the word to describe the situation. Komeito has requested Abe to uphold the message in the Murayama statement. In his statement, Abe is considering using the word "aggression" mainly to discuss the international community's intolerance of such a practice, the sources said. The statement will be released on Friday, the day before the anniversary. END