China Criticizes Abe's Pearl Harbor Visit

Beijing/Seoul, Dec. 28 (Jiji Press)--China on Wednesday criticized Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit to Pearl Harbor in Hawaii for his lack of deep reflection on the country's past. Noting that Japan waged a war of aggression against China and other Asian countries, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a press conference, "Reconciliation between the inflicters and victims must and can only be based upon sincere reflection and apology from the inflicters." This is the only way to realize "a genuine and lasting reconciliation," she said. For victimized countries in Asia, "one sincere apology" is more important than "dozens of smart shows," Hua said. Abe visited Pearl Harbor with U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday to pay tribute to both Japanese and U.S. victims of the Dec. 7, 1941, attack on the harbor by the now-defunct Japanese military that opened a war between the two countries in a new phase of World War II. In his speech at Pearl Harbor, Abe highlighted the "power of reconciliation." The People's Daily newspaper of the Communist Party of China said in its Wednesday edition that the Pearl Harbor visit is criticized both in Japan and the United States because Abe made the trip before apologizing to war victims in Asian countries that Japan invaded during the war. Meanwhile, a South Korean Foreign Ministry official, touching on Abe's pledge never to wage war again in the speech, said that Japan, based on a correct understanding of history, should strive further to promote reconciliation and cooperation with neighbors that fell victim to its wartime militarism. South Korea's Yonhap news agency criticized Abe, saying that the acts he has taken since assuming the post of prime minister for the second time in late 2012, including the enactment of national security laws, contradict his pledge to keep Japan a peaceful nation. END