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U.S. experts: Abe WWII statement could help Korea ties

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By MATTHEW PENNINGTON

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That's becuase they were looking under the wrong heading. If they`d tried sex slaves, perhaps they'd have had more fruitful results

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

@"Christopher" Glen

America investigated the comfort women issue and found nothing. Japan investigated the comfort women issue and found nothing. Case closed.

It's true "Christopher". The US recently spent $30m and came up with nothing. Since Yoshimi Yoshiaki's comments, Pro-comfort women researcher have spent 20 years in Japan attempting to find more damning evidence of systemic abuse and come up with nothing.

The myth and all the exaggerated propaganda just wasn't official policy. The recruitment, supply and management of brothels was in the hands of locals, mainly Koreans. If there were abuses, the responsibility lies with them.

What Yoshiaki actually found was Army correspondence relating to the abuse of women by Korean agents informing officers to aware of it and stop it. Rather than "prove" the army's involvement in abuse, it prove who was carrying out the abuse; and that the army was against it.

A view that is reflected in numerous battalion diaries and other correspondence which portrayed it as unpatriotic.

Those are the facts.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

America investigated the comfort women issue and found nothing. Japan investigated the comfort women issue and found nothing. Case closed.

I highly doubt it

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Ossan - thank you for your comprehensive authorative analysis.

I now admit I was "dead wrong" and others who say they weren't influenced by the Asahi report also must admit they're dead wrong. Now I understand this portion of History is so clear cut. In the future I will be more vigilant and not accept the opinions and views of others as truthful, esp if they don't follow the one and only chosen line.

My time spent studying historiography was wasted all those years ago.

America investigated the comfort women issue and found nothing. Japan investigated the comfort women issue and found nothing. Case closed.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

browny1Aug. 21, 2015 - 09:08AM JST Ossan - In this not-all-tools-are-on-the-table topic, I think you assign far to much significance to the Asahi article. Others >involved at the time say the incorrect details of the original article were of no consequence and didn't even come into play.

No you are dead wrong, Show us another source of "200,000 women being forcibly taken". The actual "Crimes" in connection with the Comfort Womern was the proven, tried and convicted Dutch Indonesia incident. Everything else is a fallacy.

tinawatanabeAug. 21, 2015 - 05:20PM JST You explained this before maybe twice sorry about that, but it is well known that US has "take SK's side" for at least >two decades, but off topic.

When Syngman Rhee unilaterally declared the Liancourt Rocks (Takeshima/Dokdo) to be South Korean territory, the U.S. immediately advised Japan to file a claim and a request to settle at the ICJ, which of course has not happened die to South Korea behavior. Do you think this shows that the US "sides with SK"?

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

SK came to use it as evidence and demand even stronger. Japan was betrayed.

No

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

OssanAmericaAug. 20, 2015 - 11:48PM JST Now why would Kono issue the statement that he did? Did it stop South Koreas' demands? Or add fuel to the fire?

SK came to use it as evidence and demand even stronger. Japan was betrayed.

baka and ohitoyoshi. I think both apply

especially to the older generations yes. but I figure the govt at that time was very tired of South Korea's demands .

Do not confuse these actions and views with those of the U.S. government.

Considering what Obama and Clinton said, local Municipalities' views seem consistent with the US govt. US is often telling Japan what to do, why can't it do the same to its own people? Since so many cities are doing it along with other condemnation resolutions against Japan, many Japanese was beginning to see it as US govt intention. But recently some changes in your govt.

This is my last lecture to you on the subject,

You explained this before maybe twice sorry about that, but it is well known that US has "take SK's side" for at least two decades, but off topic.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Ossan - In this not-all-tools-are-on-the-table topic, I think you assign far to much significance to the Asahi article. Others involved at the time say the incorrect details of the original article were of no consequence and didn't even come into play.

That one persons fantasy was refuted, does not mean ALL other sources lack credibility. Some may be shaky - but ALL?

And I suspect that the Americans - when searching for evidence against Japan - quite easily and readily ignored the comfort women issue, because uncomfortably- their own forces were involved in the widespread use of prostitutes and involved in rapes and other unsavoury actions. Too close to the bone.

I would never believe a govt report into such murky waters that states "Yup, nothing much here to speak of".

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Korean experts from Korea saying Abe's statement would/could help Korean ties would definitely hold more weight. But American "experts" speaking at the Heritage Foundation seminar (above all places) should be taken as a joke.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

tinawatanabeAug. 20, 2015 - 11:37AM JST @OssanAmerica Yes Mrs Clinton said about the Senkaku I forgot about it. (but I thought it was clear from San Francisco Treaty but off >topic) She also replied strongly when Xi said China could claim Hawaii. so she did good things too.

Thank you for recognizing this. PRC was not a signatory to the SF Treaty so it's relevance in debatable. What is important as regards the Senkakus is not it's "ancient history" or "it's sovereignty" as China harps upon, but whether any attempt to take them by force will ensure a military conflict with the United States. The answer is "Yes, it will".

Kono statement was a political compromise. South Korea promised it wouldn't bring up the same historical issues or >demand apologies again if Japan accepted Korea's position. The statement was not based on historical facts but >political tool to stop SK's demands, that's why it was just a Kono's statement, not PM statement or a cabinet approved >statement.

No offense to your country or domestic politics but from what I've seen Japanese seem to do things for the sake of their own political or private gains with total disregard to how it would affect the country as a whole. The Kono statement is one the stupidest things I've seen any government do. It substantiated a false story by Asahi which created an issue out of a non-issue. I call it a non-issue because even during WWII when we were looking for every piece of evidence we could use against Japan, the Military Prostitution System did not draw our attention, A subsequent study done years later (the link I gave you) uncovered nothing as well. Today's "Comfort Women" issue is a hoax that South Korea is pulling on the entire world to use a political tool to help their master China. Now why would Kono issue the statement that he did? Did it stop South Koreas' demands? Or add fuel to the fire? Two Japanese words come to mind ; baka and ohitoyoshi. I think both apply,

OK US was not behind the Asahi article, but US took too much SK's side and hurt the Japanese people, even Abe >said "We were hurt" You said Japan was not doing anything, but Japan has done many things but always met criticism >from Americans saying "revisonism" or "interference of domestic issue" and the situation got even worse.

The US does not "take SK's side". I repeat again how things work in the United States. The Federal government does not control the entire country in every respect. States, Counties, Municipalities have the right to determine matters within their own jurisdiction. When some little town votes to put up a monument which is advocated by the Korean-American residents of that town, only the countering votes from other town members can stop that. Korean-Americans are all over the US, particularly the East Coast. And many (not all) act on behalf of the South Korean government and it's positions. Japanese-Americans which have a longer history in the U.S. don't care. Some even side with the Koreans. Those "Nikkei" as well as American politicias influenced by the Korean-American Lobby are responsible for anything that criticizes Japan that comes out of the United States. Do not confuse these actions and views with those of the U.S. government. Please take the time to study what I wrote. This is my last lecture to you on the subject,

0 ( +2 / -2 )

browny1 - toshiko is on about the money Japan pays for US forces in Japan. But the figure is much bigger. Japan pays US more than $7 Billion a year plus machine purchase.

www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/area/usa/hosho/pdfs/taisei03.pdf

0 ( +0 / -0 )

toshiko - thank you for your reply - but sorry I've got no idea what you are on about. Sorry!

0 ( +1 / -1 )

@OssanAmerica

Yes Mrs Clinton said about the Senkaku I forgot about it. (but I thought it was clear from San Francisco Treaty but off topic) She also replied strongly when Xi said China could claim Hawaii. so she did good things too.

Kono statement was a political compromise. South Korea promised it wouldn't bring up the same historical issues or demand apologies again if Japan accepted Korea's position. The statement was not based on historical facts but political tool to stop SK's demands, that's why it was just a Kono's statement, not PM statement or a cabinet approved statement.

OK US was not behind the Asahi article, but US took too much SK's side and hurt the Japanese people, even Abe said "We were hurt" You said Japan was not doing anything, but Japan has done many things but always met criticism from Americans saying "revisonism" or "interference of domestic issue" and the situation got even worse.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

1 Good Bad browny1AUG. 19, 2015 - 03:56PM JST Toshiko - you asked what US has invested in Japan - gvt & privately - and how much. OK. First - investment does not only mean money. Time, Energy, Bridge / Relationships Buildiing, Strategic planning etc come to mind quickly. But if you mean money - Govt: - well I can't even begin to put a price on 70 years of military base establishment, infrastructure, operation & maintenance. How much??? Biillions??? Trillions??? Probably enough to have built thousands of schools & hospitals. In other words - a lot. Private: - a 30 second search revealed that in 2008 direct US investment totalled about $60billion. A lot of moolah. I'll leave it to you to squirrel out the detaiils. So back to my original statement - The US has invested so much of "all of the above" - and more, that they are not likely to want to see it go down the gurgler lightly, because of instability in the region. It's in their "in-vested interest" to keep the ball in their court in order to have the advantage of selective return of service

=======================================================================

Bases --- for 70 years, Japanese govt has beYour €€€€4€ is differebr far more than pentagon en paying USA for lettong US nilitary stay. Last year of payment was 3 billion dollar. How come your dollara do not agree with we get report from Pentagon and our senators in our state in USA?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

One of Japan's roles in South Korea and China is to be a punching bag for their governments to provide something to unite their peoples against. So Japan will remain a villain as long as the rulers of these countries want it to be.

Someone who can see the truth.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

tinawatanabeAug. 19, 2015 - 11:36AM JST OssanAmerica, thank you for the link. But in Japan we saw on TV that Hilary Clinton, then Secretary of State arrogantly >say "What's this comfort women anyway? We should use term Sex Slaves from now on" and also saw Obama criticizing >Japan alongside SK President in SK over comfort women. How could it be Japan's fault?

A great many Americans don't give Hillary much credibility. I personally haven't had much respect for her since she tried to convince the American public that the truth was a "vast right wing conspiracy". She talks out both ends as always. But- Japan should remember that as US Sec of State she was the fist high ranking US official to tell China that the US will defend the Senkakus, which then lead to two Sec of Defense, the next Sec of State and ultimately the POTUS to make that statement, effectively putting an end to China's dreams. As for Obama, well he's the lamest POTUS we've ever had, and I was around to watch Jimmy Carter, BUT- the Comfort Women issue is Japan's fault. As I clearly pointed out your newspaper Asahi created the basis of the issue with a false story, And your politicians like Kono gave that fallacy credibility. Anything any US official says is AFTER that fact. Attacking the US over the Comfort Women issue is what we call "barking up the wrong tree".

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Tina - thank you.

You mentioned " your country". What do you think is "my country"?

And back on topic. It's in USs interest to maintain "stability" in the NEA region. In order to do so it requires it's 2 allies to be cordial to each other so as to maintain a unified front against the BIG bogey. This means saccharined responses to controversial topics is par for the course - when it suits them.

And now it does as Japan & Korea are host to about 50,000 soldiers and 25+ bases, and 30,000 soldiers and 15+ bases respectively.

Every reason for the US govt to be "officially" nice, so we will hear statements like those espoused by Sheila Smith.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

they are not likely to want to see it go down the gurgler lightly, because of instability in the region. It's in their "in-vested interest" to keep the ball in their court in order to have the advantage of selective return of service

If your country wants a better relation wih SK, go ahead, Japan has it own idea about SK.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

browny1,

well I can't even begin to put a price on 70 years of military base establishment, infrastructure, operation & maintenance. How much??? Biillions??? Trillions??? Probably enough to have built thousands of schools & hospitals. In other words - a lot

Don't write a lie. Japan pays for it. Japan pays more than one Trillion yen every year for US bases. More than 7 billion dollers plus machine purchase. Japan is US colony state. Please leave if Americans have to criticize Japan as if Japan was a freerider.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

What else are they going to say??

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Toshiko - you asked what US has invested in Japan - gvt & privately - and how much.

OK. First - investment does not only mean money. Time, Energy, Bridge / Relationships Buildiing, Strategic planning etc come to mind quickly.

But if you mean money -

Govt: - well I can't even begin to put a price on 70 years of military base establishment, infrastructure, operation & maintenance. How much??? Biillions??? Trillions??? Probably enough to have built thousands of schools & hospitals. In other words - a lot.

Private: - a 30 second search revealed that in 2008 direct US investment totalled about $60billion. A lot of moolah. I'll leave it to you to squirrel out the detaiils.

So back to my original statement - The US has invested so much of "all of the above" - and more, that they are not likely to want to see it go down the gurgler lightly, because of instability in the region. It's in their "in-vested interest" to keep the ball in their court in order to have the advantage of selective return of service.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

The entire population of Japan could turn toward Korea, bow 60°, scream "We are slimy pigs unworthy of being in the same continent as you!" at the top of their lungs, followed by the every Japanese person committing ritual suicide simultaneously and it would not be enough for Korea or China.

Been saying this for years.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

So Mr.Abe's apology was a politically manipulation to defend US stragetic interests by protecting that fragile alliance. Thats why Japan is never Germany. The Abe apology was a political gesturing because the US involved. And thats why Japan never made a sincerely remorse! I have no idea which part of his lengthy speech had mentioned the suffering of China. Leave that dispute to the 80th anniversary and there the Chinese 'Roll' again!

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Like I kept harping abe should have been silenced & just let the Emperor do whats RIGHT!!!!!

Absolutely

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

Who gives a crap about U.S. experts.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/08/14/statement-nsc-spokesperson-ned-price-japanese-prime-minister-abe’s

As much as U.S. hopes to include Korea in this U.S./Japan alliance, it's not Japan's job to cater to this whining, inherent urge to be under China country. The Abe statement made that clear, IMO.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Well clearly the US & Australia should have waited a couple days before commenting on abe's fictional speech.

Sure didn't take long for it to be shot down in flames with all the action yasukuni is getting & the fool thing abe muttered afterwards!

These supposed US experts also are not looking too swift right now, to have any credibility they now clearly have to retract what they have said above.

But the US & its ""thinkers"" are just trying to spin this pile of crap in a positive way(from the US point of view)

Should be crystal clear abe believes very little of what he said last Friday, whats transpired after his speech is pretty bad even for him.

As usual Japans ACTIONS speak MUCH loader than her words which aren't worth anything! What a colossal waste of the 70th anniversary.

Like I kept harping abe should have been silenced & just let the Emperor do whats RIGHT!!!!!

2 ( +5 / -3 )

U.S. experts: Abe WWII statement could help Korea ties

Not when his wife visits Yasukuni (and posts it all over Facebook) 4 days after his "speech".

0 ( +4 / -4 )

The Dutch author Van Wolferen's analysys/opinion of this countrys foreign policy/relations are out about 25 years and still hold water/truth after all this time.

Korea includes the northern part too, at least in English.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

You know, at least try something like that first, before claiming it won't work. It's never been tried, how do you know it won't work?

for instance your previous President Lee demanded Japan's Emperor kneel down and apologize. So bowing 60 degree certainly won't work.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Sheila Smith, senior fellow for Japan studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, told a seminar at the Heritage Foundation think tank in Washington that the statement had bucked earlier expectations, and demonstrated Abe’s diplomatic intent to improve relations with Japan’s neighbors.

I doubt it. Some have already analyzed that Abe really doesn't care about Korea with their constant whining and that Japanese people should simply ignore them. I agree.

As the speech he made states,

"..Upon this reflection, Japan will firmly uphold basic values such as freedom, democracy, and human rights as unyielding values and, by working hand in hand with countries that share such values.."

But the Japanese government had previously omitted Korea as a country that shares such values .

http://www.sankei.com/politics/news/150304/plt1503040025-n1.html

外務省ホームページ「韓国との基本的価値共有」を削除

0 ( +2 / -2 )

The entire population of Japan could turn toward Korea, bow 60°, scream "We are slimy pigs unworthy of being in the same continent as you!" at the top of their lungs, followed by the every Japanese person commiting ritual suicide simultaneously and it would not be enough for Korea (or China).

It would be enough if they stopped behaving like YOU are slimy pigs unworthy of being in the same continent as US at the top of their lungs

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

OssanAmerica, thank you for the link. But in Japan we saw on TV that Hilary Clinton, then Secretary of State arrogantly say "What's this comfort women anyway? We should use term Sex Slaves from now on" and also saw Obama criticizing Japan alongside SK President in SK over comfort women. How could it be Japan's fault?

-8 ( +0 / -8 )

The entire population of Japan could turn toward Korea, bow 60°, scream "We are slimy pigs unworthy of being in the same continent as you!" at the top of their lungs, followed by the every Japanese person commiting ritual suicide simultaneously and it would not be enough for Korea (or China).

You know, at least try something like that first, before claiming it won't work. It's never been tried, how do you know it won't work?

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

@browny1AUG. 19, 2015 - 08:27AM JST US has so much invested in Japan in both the govt & private realms and wishes to remain the main player in NEAsia, so there is NO way it will openly strongly criticize or condemn.

'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

Write what US invested in Japan. Govt? private realms? Write how much too.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

I believe the USA really doesn't understand NE Asia. It's using all its allies. Abe is being egged on by the US on several fronts; some of which I accept some I don't see. The average Japanese, although they don't fully accept Abe, doesn't see e problem with China and / or Korea wanting more kowtows and I'm sorries. The PM might sound remorseful but is he? His speech sounded more philosophical than contrite. A child makes the parent. A follower makes the leader. An accepted speech legitimizes the orator. My final analysis is that for now we're not going to get anything better from this or any near future PM. Take what we got, but don't think it's over.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Well said, gabrial888!

Let's for a rapprochement between Abe and Xi next month.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

darnnameAUG. 19, 2015 - 08:59AM JST @PTownsend It was hyperbole. Modus vivendi. I think rabble rabble of any sort just makes things worse

But, I do enjoy your music.. I love opera, Baroque, jazz, rock, folk and most other forms. If you do too, glad to find commonality.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

"Sheila Smith, senior fellow for Japan studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, told a seminar at the Heritage Foundation..."

Aww yes, the Heritage Foundation...and American farrrrrr-right conservative think-tank, an oxymoron if I ever heard one. Not shocking that they see eye to eye with Abe-san on issues of historical revisionism.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

One of Japan's roles in South Korea and China is to be a punching bag for their governments to provide something to unite their peoples against. So Japan will remain a villain as long as the rulers of these countries want it to be.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

tinawatanabeAug. 19, 2015 - 09:26AM JST Congrats to US who completed its success by this Abe's speech in making Japan's history even worse using SK with >comfort women issue, which all started only in 1991.

Tinawatanabe Japan has only itself to blame for allowing South Korea to create this Comfort Women issue. Your Asahi Shinbun laid the groundwork for this fallacy. And your politicians like Kono gave this nonsense credibility.And as I mentioned before, Japan does nothing t support Japanese-Americans, so they don't do anything about the actions of Korean-Americans. Getting pretty sick of trying to blame Japan's mistakes on the U.S.

"The US government, under the Clinton and Bush administrations, spent 7 years and 30 million dollars to look into Nazi and Japanese war crimes.The report was published in the spring of 2007. Out of millions of pages of newly declassified material, much of it related to Japan, and they were unable to find evidence of forced prostitution." http://eng.the-liberty.com/2014/5641/

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

I don't care what people say, at this point in his term Abe is doing very good work for international ties and for the economy. If he can somehow bring the environment back to the forefront, he has my unconditional support.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

US does not want Japan and SK in good term at all, but want them in good enough relation for US to use them and want them in bad enough for US to play go-between.

Congrats to US who completed its success by this Abe's speech in making Japan's history even worse using SK with comfort women issue, which all started only in 1991

-7 ( +1 / -8 )

@PTownsend

It was hyperbole. This may cause you great heartburn, but I don't think either of us will resolve the problems between Korea or Japan. That was my point, the one I failed to make.

But, I do enjoy your music...

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Moderate reactions from Korea is there was America's persuasions or pressures through diplomatic route.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

@darnname

The point I was trying to make and obviously failed to was that I think making sweeping generalizations (Korea this, Japan that), that thinking in binary terms is done to enflame and done with no sense of trying to resolve a problem. But I also know that people cherrypick data, e.g. from the poll results I sent, that support their position and ignore anything that doesn’t or says something different. If you can find data that you trust, that does not show confirmation bias, please share it.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

US has so much invested in Japan in both the govt & private realms and wishes to remain the main player in NEAsia, so there is NO way it will openly strongly criticize or condemn.

Of course a few tch, tch tchs here & there.

Power = Money = Power = Money........

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

US is more frielndly to Korea/ Japan knows and China knows. China had been friedely with Korea for a while but even so, Japanese industries have been helping its industrization. So maybe China will give up on Korea and it invited Abe. Japan can ignore Korea. As for US experts, don't they know no matter how sweet they try to fool Japan, as long as it spies Japan, te4y can not make JAPAN BE FRIEND WITH kOREA.

-4 ( +3 / -7 )

The U.S. Supposed exporters are party liners up chucking the same foreign policy vomit that we have been getting forever. It is in American interests that SK and Japan be friends and thus they want to believe to be so when it is not so. Abe angered South Korea. To skew that into a success in friendship is something only a total idiot or an official expert can concoct.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

@darnname Sarcasm font on: Thank you for sharing your rage.

This poll - obviously your choice to believe it - suggests there might be some who see things differently. Rhetorical question: here in 2015 how effective is an us v. them approach to relationships among Northeast Asian neighbours and the rest of the world?

http://www.pewglobal.org/2014/07/14/chapter-4-how-asians-view-each-other/

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Obviously, Shiela Smith and Evans Revere know nothing about Korea.

The entire population of Japan could turn toward Korea, bow 60°, scream "We are slimy pigs unworthy of being in the same continent as you!" at the top of their lungs, followed by the every Japanese person commiting ritual suicide simultaneously and it would not be enough for Korea (or China).

"Could help.." Yeah, right.

6 ( +12 / -6 )

Sheila Smith, senior fellow for Japan studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, told a seminar at the Heritage Foundation think tank in Washington that the statement had bucked earlier expectations, and demonstrated Abe’s diplomatic intent to improve relations with Japan’s neighbors.

This rosy assessment of Abe's statement is clearly biased, and was likely paid for by Japan Inc.

The Council on Foreign Relations has the International Affairs Fellowship in Japan which is sponsored by Hitachi, and lists Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs as one of its "cooperating Japanese institutions. http://www.cfr.org/thinktank/fellowships/iaf_japan.html

0 ( +8 / -8 )

Good, but I believe the fact Abe will meet Xi in China the next September is even more important.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

So the US gave it's stamp of approval on Abe.

2 ( +6 / -4 )

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