Beijing welcomes Tokyo's apology for war atrocities

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TOKYO -- Japan sent mixed signals to China yesterday, offering a ?heartfelt apology? for its World War II aggressions to try to repair tattered ties -- but blunting that message when Japanese lawmakers visited a war shrine critics say glorifies Tokyo's militaristic past.

A Chinese official welcomed the apology but added that 'what's of much more importance is the action. You have to make it a reality.'

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's expression of 'deep remorse' at a summit of Asian and African leaders in Indonesia's capital broke no new rhetorical ground.

But the rare appeal before world leaders was a clear attempt to reverse the worst erosion of ties between Tokyo and Beijing since diplomatic relations were established in 1972.

'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,' Mr. Koizumi said at the opening ceremony for the summit in Jakarta, conveying Tokyo's 'deep remorse and heartfelt apology' for its conquests.

'Japan squarely faces these facts of history in a spirit of humility,' he said.

Mr. Koizumi's choice of showing contrition at an international forum overseas put him squarely before many former victims of Japan's atrocities, which include mass sex slavery and germ warfare.

It also marked the first statement of remorse from a Japanese leader since 1995 and the first outside of Japan since Prime Minister Toshiki Kaifu apologized for wartime brutalities in Singapore in 1991.

However, Mr. Koizumi's remarks were a far cry from what many Asian nations have long clamored for: a strongly worded official statement of apology endorsed by parliament.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan said, '60 years of history has caused great harm to China and Asia.'

'That ... Koizumi expressed this attitude in this arena is welcome. We welcome it,' Mr. Kong told reporters at the summit. 'But to express it is one aspect. What's of much more importance is the action. You have to make it a reality.'

He said Japan had to do more to 'face up to history.'

Relations between Japan and China have sunk to their lowest point in decades, aggravated by anti-Japan protests in China in recent weeks as well as disputes over the U.N. Security Council, natural gas resources in disputed seas and new Japanese textbooks that critics say minimize Japan's wartime offenses.

Beijing also has objected to Mr. Koizumi's annual visits to Yasukuni shrine, which honors Japan's 2.5 million war dead -- including convicted war criminals who ordered Tokyo's brutal invasion of Asia in the first half of the 20th century.

The shrine's symbolism came into sharp focus yesterday: Just hours before Mr. Koizumi's speech, dozens of members of parliament made a pilgrimage to Yasukuni.

Mr. Koizumi said he hopes to hold a one-on-one meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao in Jakarta today, Kyodo News agency reported. China said it was considering the proposal.