SEOUL, Jan 27 (Reuters) – South Korea and China warned Japan on Tuesday not to backtrack on its apology issued 20 years ago over its wartime past when Prime Minister Shinzo Abe makes a statement on the 70th anniversary of the end of World War Two.
Japan’s ties with South Korea and China have worsened sharply as Abe has adopted a conservative agenda, including a less apologetic tone toward the wartime past and bolstering Japan’s defenses.
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Abe has questioned the 1993 statement in the past and in what many saw as a nod to his conservative base, asked a panel of experts to review it. However, mindful of the potential diplomatic fallout, he has said he would not revise it.
South Korea, China warn Japan not to backtrack on apology over wartime past(Reporting by Jack Kim in Seoul, Sui-Lee Wee in Beijing and Linda Sieg in Tokyo; Editing by Jeremy Laurence)
