Page 9 - ATD15Augustus2015
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WORLD NEWS 9
Saturday 15 August 2015
Philippines to Japan: Abe stops short of apology for World War II
open base near
KEN MORITSUGU Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe delivers a statement to mark the 70th anniversary of the end
disputed sea MARI YAMAGUCHI of World War II during a press conference at his official residence in Tokyo Friday, Aug. 14, 2015.
Associated Press Abe has expressed “profound grief” for all who perished in World War II in a statement marking
Associated Press TOKYO (AP) — Prime Min- the 70th anniversary of the country’s surrender.
SUBIC, Philippines (AP) ister Shinzo Abe acknowl-
— The Philippines will go edged Friday that Japan (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
ahead with a plan to open inflicted “immeasurable
military camps at Subic damage and suffering” on Japan’s statement a dilut- by the Japanese Impe- taken note of the message
Bay facing the disputed innocent people in World ed apology at best, and “a rial Army before and dur- ... and is studying it,” U.N.
South China Sea even War II, but stopped short of crippled start to build trust ing the war still bedevils spokesman Stephane Du-
if a proposed American offering his own apology among its neighbors.” relations between Japan jarric said. “As the secre-
military presence doesn’t and said future genera- “Abe trod a fine line with and the East Asian coun- tary-general has said previ-
happen, Defense Secre- tions of Japanese should linguistic tricks, attempt- tries seven decades after ously, he hopes that based
tary Voltaire Gazmin said not have to make them ing to please his right-wing Tokyo’s surrender on Aug. on reflection and under-
Friday. Gazmin unveiled either. base on the one hand and 15, 1945. standing of history the
plans two years ago to In a widely anticipated avoid further damage in The statement got a cool countries concerned can
open air force and navy statement marking the Japan’s ties with its neigh- reaction from U.N. Secre- achieve a genuine recon-
camps at the Subic Bay 70th anniversary of his bors on the other,” it said. tary-General Ban Ki-moon, ciliation and build peace
Freeport so fighter jets and country’s surrender, he Resentment over invasion, who is South Korean. and prosperity collectively
frigates can respond faster said instead that Japan’s occupation and atrocities “The secretary-general has in the region.”q
to any contingency in the repeated past “heartfelt
disputed waters. The shift apologies” would remain
to Subic was decided as unshakeable in the future.
territorial tensions grew “On the 70th anniversary of
among China, the Philip- the end of the war, I bow
pines and four other gov- my head deeply before
ernments. The Philippines the souls of all those who
signed an accord last year perished both at home
allowing American forces and abroad,” Abe said in
to be temporarily stationed a 25-minute address deliv-
in camps including Subic, ered live on national tele-
but left-wing groups have vision. “I express my feel-
questioned the pact’s ings of profound grief and
constitutionality before the my eternal, sincere con-
Supreme Court. Gazmin dolences.” The statement
said the government will was closely watched by
soon begin constructing Japan’s neighbors, espe-
the bases even if the court cially South Korea and Chi-
eventually decides against na, and it was unclear
allowing American access. whether it would satisfy
“That’s a very strategic them. China’s official Xin-
location because it’s fac- hua News Agency called
ing the West Philippine
Sea,” Gazmin said, us- Kashmir villagers flee amid Pakistan-India violence
ing the Philippine name
for the South China Sea. MUNIR AHMED wounded when an Indian 14, 1947, and marks the a gathering of students,
Subic Bay, about 80 kilo- Associated Press mortar struck their home in date each year with rallies government and military
meters (50 miles) north- ISLAMABAD (AP) — Paki- the Nezapir sector of the di- and other celebrations. officials in the capital, Is-
west of Manila, used to stan and India traded vided region, the Pakistani In a televised speech on lamabad.
host Washington’s largest heavy gunfire on Friday, kill- military said. Friday, Security was tight and
naval base outside the ing one person and forcing The two nuclear-armed Pakistani President Mam- troops guarded the Con-
American mainland until villagers in divided Kashmir archrivals have a history of noon Hussain said his na- vention Center where Hus-
it was closed in 1992, end- to flee to safety even as uneasy relations and regu- tion believes in “peaceful sain, along with Prime Min-
ing nearly a century of U.S. the Pakistani president re- larly exchange fire over the co-existence” with India, ister Nawaz Sharif,
military presence. Three newed his offer of talks with disputed boundary, the though it would not com- hoisted the national flag.
years later, China seized a India to resolve the issue of latest coming as Pakistan prise if its defense and se- Since 1947, Pakistan and
strategic reef also claimed the disputed region. celebrated Independence curity came under threat. India have fought two of
by Manila, prompting Phil- A Pakistani woman was Day. “We want to resolve all out- their three wars over Kash-
ippine senators to ratify a killed and her two daugh- Pakistan won indepen- standing issues, including mir, which is claimed by
pact that allowed Ameri- ters and husband were dence from Britain on Aug. Kashmir, with India,” he told both countries. q
can forces to return for an-
nual combat drills.q
