Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's upcoming war-anniversary statement is so important for the future of relations between Seoul and Tokyo that the U.S. should make greater efforts to get Abe to address historical tensions through the statement, a U.S. expert said.
Abe plans to issue the statement next month to mark the 70th anniversary of Japan's defeat in World War II. The statement will be watched closely as it is considered a second chance for him to resolve historical tensions with South Korea after failing to do so during his U.S. visit in April.
"Washington has a role to play since the U.S. is inexorably linked to Asia, not only by history but by the need to stand firmly with our friends, even when they disagree with each other," said Bruce Klingner, a senior research fellow at the Heritage Foundation, in a recent article.
"The U.S. should continue to play an important behind-the-scenes facilitator role by encouraging, cajoling, and even occasionally privately criticizing both nations," he said.
Washington should also make clear to Abe that the statement's content would be critical not only to the future of Japan's relations with Korea, but also to the success of his defense reform policy, including implementing the so-called "collective self-defense," Klingner said.
"Abe has the opportunity to repair strained relations with Seoul and begin a new chapter of reconciliation and cooperation, but he can only do so by affirming unambiguous recognition and repentance of Japan's past actions," the expert said.
Klingner also said it is important for Seoul to respond positively when Japan does so. South Korean President Park Geun-hye must be "sincere in her own recent pledge to not allow history to be the sole determinant in policy toward Japan," he said.
Simply speaking, Abe's and Park's legacies may rely on the former's statement and the latter's response, he said.
"Asia is vitally important to the United States -- as is American presence and involvement in Asia. We can only be present and involved with the help of strong and true friends, economic partners, and allies. There are no better examples of that than Japan and the Republic of Korea," he said. (Yonhap)
