October 17, 2014
No. 230
Japan’s Yasukuni Shrine held its annual autumn festival between October 17 and 20 Over 100 Japanese lawmakers, including members of the Cabinet, visited the shrine on October 17, with other politicians following suit during the period.
With regard to such events over the years, the ROC government has solemnly upheld its position that Japanese political figures should learn from the past, empathize with the traumatized people of other countries, and accordingly strive to maintain regional peace and stability. However, many Japanese politicians have remained unmoved and continue to pay respect at the shrine, causing further pain to the people of adjacent nations and deepening their concerns and sense of insecurity. Such actions are detrimental to the region’s positive development and subsequently regrettable.
While the ROC places great importance on the development of cordial and cooperative relations with Japan, it still maintains that the rights and wrongs of the past should be clearly discerned through reason and objectivity. Therefore, the ROC government solemnly reiterates that Japan’s government and politicians should acknowledge historical facts, engage in deep introspection, and take constructive measures to interact straightforwardly with countries of the region in the joint pursuit of peace and prosperity. (E)