Japanese leader Abe due to express remorse for the war but will he refer to "aggression"?
Japanese leader's speech this week will be closely examined by observers
Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will make a major speech this week in Indonesia that could offer clues about the language in a new statement this summer to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of second world war.
Observers in China and South Korea are focusing on whether Abe will make direct reference to Japan's "colonial rule and aggression" and express an "apology", as previous premiers did on the 50th and 60th anniversaries.
Abe wants Japan to have what he says is a less masochistic view of its history, but the prime minister has caused waves by quibbling over the definition of "invade" and provoked ire by downplaying wartime sex slavery.
Government sources have said Abe plans to use Wednesday's speech at the two-day Asian-African Summit in Jakarta to express Japan's remorse for the war, explain its international contributions over the past 70 years and pledge to make increased contributions to peace and prosperity in Asia and Africa.
Abe's address at a joint meeting of the US Congress on April 29 will also offer more clues of the envisaged statement Abe is supposed to deliver in August.
Speaking in a parliamentary session on March 16, Abe said he plans to say in Jakarta that Japan, "as a peace-loving nation, has made major contributions to the peace and development of the (Asia-Pacific) region and the world through development cooperation to developing countries and assistance to democratisation (of such countries)."
This could suggest that Abe is unlikely to refer to heartfelt apology, colonial rule and aggression - phrases that Beijing and Seoul want him to say clearly in public.