Japan: 'Deep Remorse' Over WWII

Japan's prime minister on Friday apologized for his country's World War II aggression in Asia but a Chinese official dismissed the remarks, saying "actions are more important" as Japanese lawmakers made a controversial visit to a war shrine.

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's expression of "deep remorse" at a summit of Asian and African leaders in Jakarta did not go beyond what Japanese leaders previously have said.

But its delivery at the international gathering clearly was aimed at easing an escalating row with China over Tokyo's handling of its wartime atrocities and its bid for a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council.

Relations between the two Asian powers have plunged to a three-decade low, with massive anti-Japanese protests erupting in several Chinese cities in recent weeks.

"In the past Japan through its colonial rule and aggression caused tremendous damage and suffering for the people of many countries, particularly those of Asian nations," Koizumi said at the summit's opening ceremony. "Japan squarely faces these facts of history in a spirit of humility."

China's ambassador to South Korea, Li Bin, responded, however, by saying: "Of course, words are important. But I believe actions are more important."

Hours earlier, a Japanese Cabinet minister and 80 other Parliament members made a pilgrimage to a Tokyo shrine that honors executed World War II criminals along with other war dead.

"We express strong dissatisfaction over the negative actions of some Japanese politicians," China's Foreign Ministry said of the Yasukuni Shrine visit.

It called on Japan to take actions that are "more conducive to improving and developing Sino-Japanese relations," citing the "current severe situation."

A spokesman for Chinese nationalist groups that helped mobilize three weekends of sometimes violent anti-Japanese protests welcomed Koizumi's comments, calling them "a sign of some progress."

"Still, this is far, far from enough," said Lu Yunfei.

Koizumi said he was hoping for a one-on-one meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao in Jakarta on Saturday, Japan's Kyodo news agency reported. But China says it's still considering the proposal.

Tens of thousands took to the streets in China this month after Tokyo approved a new history textbook that critics say plays down Japan's wartime atrocities, including mass sex slavery and germ warfare. The protesters also have targeted Tokyo's Security Council bid.

Also fueling tensions are disputes over gas-drilling in disputed waters and Koizumi's repeated visits to the Yasukuni war shrine.

"With feelings of deep remorse and heartfelt apology always engraved in mind, Japan has resolutely maintained, consistently since the end of World War II, never turning into a military power but an economic power, its principle of resolving all matters by peaceful means, without recourse through the use of force," Koizumi said.

He said Japan will stick to a "peaceful path" and increase its overseas development aid to Asian and African nations.

A Japanese Foreign Ministry spokesman said in an interview in Jakarta that Koizumi's speech clearly shows Japan's regret, a core point he was hoping to convey to the delegates.

"We are not just rich people hanging around giving out money. We are doing this because our whole attitude is based on remorse," Akira Chiba said. Tokyo is one of the world's largest donor's of foreign aid. "I do hope that the Chinese will hear this message too."

He said Japan still expects "a formal apology for what happened ... because it's against international law what they did." The demonstrators have smashed windows of Japan's diplomatic missions and damaged Japanese restaurants.

The Chinese government insists Japan is to blame for the troubles.

"It's not bad for us (if China does not apologize). It's bad for them. It's in the interest of both sides, not just our side," Chiba said.

Japan's Kyodo News Agency said Koizumi's remarks were based on a 1995 speech made by Tomiichi Murayama, the prime minister at the time, marking the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II.

Going beyond statements of remorse made by previous Japanese leaders, Murayama spoke of Japan's "mistaken national policy" that "caused tremendous damage and suffering to people of many countries" and offered a "heartfelt apology."

The two-day Indonesian summit draws together 80 nations to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first Asia-Africa conference that gave birth to the Nonaligned Movement, which tried to steer a neutral course between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War.