Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Friday stopped sort of an apology and expressed 'profound grief' for his country's actions in World War II.
"On the 70th anniversary of the end of the war, I bow my head deeply before the souls of all those who perished both at home and abroad," Shinzo Abe said while reading out his statement to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II at the Prime Minister's Office in Tokyo.
"I express my feelings of profound grief and my eternal, sincere condolences. Upon the innocent people did our country inflict immeasurable damage and suffering. History is harsh. What is done cannot be undone," he said while regretting his country's action during WWII but stopped sort of making an apology.
"Each and every one of them had his or her life, dream, and beloved family. When I squarely contemplate this obvious fact, even now, I find myself speechless and my heart is rent with the utmost grief," Japanese prime minister said in the televised statement.
"We must never forget that there were women behind the battlefields whose honor and dignity were severely injured," he said while indirectly referring to so-called 'comfort women', according to Japan News. 'Comfort women' were sex slaves from Korea and other Asian countries during Japanese colonization.
Abe's 'profound grief' statement drew critical reaction from China which has repeatedly demanded apology from Abe for the atrocities committed by the Japanese military during its occupation of much of Asia.
"Japan should have made an explicit statement on the nature of the war ... rather than being evasive," Chinese foreign ministry said on Saturday, according to Voice of America.
In 1995, then Japanese premier Tomiichi Murayama expressed deep remorse and offered a heartfelt apology for Japan's past aggression and colonial rule, according to CCTV America. China and South Korea have urged Abe to follow Murayama.
