Taiwan urges Japan to reflect on second world war aggression

Taiwan's quasi-official body overseeing relations with Japan urged the Japanese government yesterday to reflect on its wartime aggression and keep its commitment to peaceful development in the region and the world.

Lo Koon-tsan, secretary general of the Association of East Asian Relations, who represents the Taiwanese body in charge of ties with Japan in the absence of formal diplomatic relations, said the Taiwan government's position on this "historical problem" was clear.

"History cannot be forgotten; we deal with the matter on its merits and clearly distinguish kindness and hatred," he said.

Under such a precondition, Lo said he urged the Japanese government to face up to "historical fact and examine its history of aggression in the second world war honestly, objectively and fairly".

Apart from calling on Tokyo to learn a lesson from history, Lo urged the Japanese government to "adopt a forward-thinking approach and responsible attitude to develop a friendly relationship with neighbouring countries in a bid to jointly advance peace and prosperity in the region".

His remarks came after Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said he planned to uphold the general tone, rather than the specific wording of past statements issued by his predecessors when he makes a7 statement in August on the 70th anniversary of the end of the war.