U.S. Unhappy With Warning Letter From Japan

U.S. Unhappy With Warning Letter From Japan

The U.S. State Department appeared displeased by a warning letter from Japanese Ambassador to the U.S. Ryozo Kato.
Kato warned in the letter that Japan-U.S. relations could suffer serious, long-term harm if the House of Representatives passes a resolution urging Japan to apologize for forcing women into sexual slavery during World War II.
The letter cited Japan's support for reconstruction in Iraq as an example of what could be hurt by the vote.
A U.S. official, who asked to remain anonymous, strongly criticized the Japanese government for linking the comfort women issue with Iraq. "Japan has aggravated the situation by placing an advertisement denying its role in the comfort women issue and sending the warning letter."
When asked in a press briefing whether the Bush administration has tried to persuade Congress not to pass the resolution, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said, "I know that President Bush, when he met with Prime Minister Abe, talked about -- you know, talked about this issue. And President Bush was reassured by his conversation with Prime Minister Abe specifically on this issue."
U.S. Congressman Mike Honda, who submitted the resolution, said in an interview with U.S. media that the resolution is likely to be voted on by the House on July 30, a day after Japan's parliamentary elections. Honda said the resolution would "definitely" be taken up before Congress starts its summer recess Aug. 6.
As to Kato's warning in the letter that the resolution would undermine U.S. ties with its "closest Asian ally," Honda said, "I don't think it's going to hurt the relationship between our two countries. When people make amends, usually a friendship gets stronger." He added, "This resolution is seeking reconciliation. Reconciliation doesn't have a timeline."
Meanwhile, the San Jose Mercury News said in an article, "In Japan, individual high-ranking officials have apologized over the years. But the Diet, Japan's parliament, has resisted passing a formal apology."
The daily newspaper was critical of Japan's politicians. "Apologies have been followed by high-level visits to the Yasukuni Shrine, where 14 convicted war criminals are buried. Textbooks undergo a whitewashing. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said in March that there was 'no evidence' to prove comfort women were coerced. No wonder apologies seem insincere."

(englishnews@chosun.com )