CRI听力:Former Japanese PM Urges Abe to Honor Apology

Former Japanese Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama is urging Shinzo Abe's current government to honor the apology made to Asia in 1995.

Murayama made the statement during a speech in Seoul.

While in office, Murayama officially apologized to Japan's neighbors for their suffering caused by the country's wartime aggression.

The former Prime Minister says the statement was issued by Japan's entire government and therefore must be followed by those after him.

"Abe is sometimes flopping back and forth, but when really pushed on the issue, it's not as if he lies or says something incorrect. So in the end, he has to say that he is continuing to follow the Murayama statement."

Murayama has also stressed the country's pacifist constitution must be protected.

He says the best way for Japan to move forward is by abandoning its militarism.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has been pushing for constitutional reform to let Japan's Self Defense Forces play a larger role.

The 91-year-old Murayama also met with three women who were forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese army during World War II.

Over 200-thousand women, many of them Koreans, were forced into sex slavery throughout the war.

Meanwhile, China's Foreign Ministry has issued a statement, urging the Japanese government to respect history.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying:

"History should not be forgotten, denied or tampered with. We are urging the Japanese leader to listen to the calls from the international community and correct their mistakes. Japanese leaders should deal with the historical issues responsibly and convince the neighboring countries through their actions."

Hua Chunyinng has also reacted to reports Japan may file for damages against the Chinese fishing boat captain whose ship collided with a Japanese naval vessel near the disputed Diaoyu Islands in 2010.

The Japanese side is reported to be demanding over 14 million yen, about 139 thousand US dollars, in damages.

Hua says the incident severely infringed on China's territorial sovereignty and broke the rights of Chinese fishermen.

She has reiterated China's demand for an apology and compensation from Japan for the incident and urges Japan to correct its wrongdoing with real efforts.