Japan's tug-of-war over World War II

statement

TOKYO (AP) - Diplomatically speaking, they may be the most important words Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe utters this year.

So much so that he convened a panel of experts this week to advise him on what to say to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II on Aug. 15.

A tug-of-war has emerged between those who want Abe to stick to the apologies made by past prime ministers for Japan's wartime aggression and colonial rule, and those who say such accounts are exaggerated or even fabricated.

Abe, known for harboring revisionist views, must strike a balance, as any statement viewed as watering down past apologies would anger China and South Korea and displease the United States too.

Here are some views on the issue:

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THE REVISIONISTS

Several members of the advisory panel reflect revisionist viewpoints, some more extreme than others.

Masashi Nishihara, who heads a national security think tank, wrote in the conservative Sankei newspaper in 2013 that charges of Japan's forcible use of Asian women as sex slaves in wartime military brothels are "fabricated in South Korea." He said a 1993

apology should be revised, though he cautioned Abe against full denial. He said Japan should fight back against criticisms that single out Japan over its wartime past. Terumasa Nakanishi, a Kyoto University international politics professor, wrote in a

conservative magazine that the war-renouncing Constitution "imposed" by the allies after World War II deprives Japan of its sovereignty and military. He added that China and South Korea use history issues to intimidate Japan and block any constitutional revision. Businessman Yoshito Hori says Japan fought a war of self-defense: "Don't easily call it a 'war of aggression,'" he tweeted in 2012. He has said Abe's statement should be forward-looking and "totally different" from the past apologies.

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THE MODERATES

The panel also includes some more moderate academics such as Takashi Shiraishi, president of the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies in Tokyo.

In a 2013 online column, he wrote: "On the international scene, there is virtually no

support for the revisionist views of history expressed by some in Japan. ... We should not forget that remarks and actions by senior government officials and politicians about historical matters hurt international trust in Japan."

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THE CROWN PRINCE

The Japanese crown prince appeared to weigh in this week with a statement that history should be passed down "correctly" to younger generations. Some interpreted that as a veiled message to stick with current versions of history, though it's impossible to say for sure.

"I myself was born after the war, and did not experience it, but today when memories of the war are gradually fading, I think it is important to look back humbly on the past and pass on correctly the tragic experiences and Japan's historical path," Prince Naruhito told a news conference to mark his 55th birthday.

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THE ELDER

A senior lawmaker with something of a sage's status in Abe's ruling party says the statement needs a balance.

Masahiko Komura, vice president of the Liberal Democratic Party, advises that Abe needs to make a clear apology in order to convince the audience with his forward-looking message in the statement.

"The clearer (Abe) makes his inheritance of the 50th and 60th anniversary apologies, the more spotlight there will be on the part about the future of Japan," Komura told reporters hours before Wednesday's launch of the panel.

第二篇：时事新闻摘抄：CDC finds new virus

CDC finds new virus

The CDC says it has discovered a new virus after it killed a man in Kansas. It's called the Bourbon Virus, named after the county where the man lived. Scientists believe that it's spread by a tick or an insect bite.

When the man fell ill last year, he suffered from flu-like symptoms but doctors couldn't figure out what was making him sick.

The man, who was under the age of 50, was bitten by numerous ticks while working outside on his property in eastern Kansas. He died 11 days later. Doctors tested his blood for several possible infections but came up short. When his blood samples were sent to the CDC, it took months of testing before they realized they were dealing with something new.

"It was very frustrating. That's one of the biggest problems with my job, which I love, is when we can't answer those kinds of questions and we can't help the patients or their families."

Researchers believe it's possible other people may have been infected before, but never this severe. NBC News reports, scientists plan to visit the area when the weather gets warmer to look for insects and maybe even animals that might carry the virus.

Health officials recommend using insect repellents and wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants to protect against tick bites.