Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe issued his much-anticipated statement marking the 70th anniversary of the end of World War Two.
In his speech, Abe refrained from offering his own apology for Japan's past atrocities during the war.
He reiterated that Japan has repeatedly expressed the feelings of deep remorse and heartfelt apology for its actions during the war.
But he added that it is unnecessary for Japan's future generations to keep apologizing for the atrocities of World War II.
The prime minister also expressed regret at the suffering and sacrifices of many people during WWII in general, but did not mention Japan's own aggression and colonial rule from before or during the war.
On Aug. 15, 1995, then Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama publicly apologized for the damage and suffering Japan inflicted upon Asian nations during the war.
Murayama's landmark address was well received in both China and South Korea for its sincerity.
Former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi also made a similar statement 10 years later, reiterating the keywords such as "colonial rule," "aggression" and "apology."
For more on this, Shane Bigham spoke with Fan Xiaoju, expert in Japanese Studies at China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations.
