Japan's role in the world

Fifty years after the end of World War II, Japan can still twist itself into contortions over whether to apologize for its conduct in the war. The latest debate has yielded a feeble parliamentary resolution acknowledging Japanese aggression and colonialism, but only in the context of other countries' offenses. Remorse or reflection about Japan's behavior is offered, depending on the translation, but no apology.

While the whole exercise may seem irrelevant, Japan's tortured reckoning with history is part of a larger internal debate over its role in the world today. Until Japan comes to terms with the destructive role it played in Asia's past, it cannot play the constructive role it should in Asia's future.

The historical issue is not colonialism, in which Japan had plenty of company. Nor is it military aggression alone. Imperial Japanese forces massacred millions of Chinese, conducted medical experiments on civilians and forced thousands of Korean and other women into sexual servitude to Japanese troops. This warrants more than vague regret.

Only a tiny percentage of the present populations of China, Korea and the colonized nations of Southeast Asia directly experienced Japanese atrocities. But Tokyo's refusal to apologize has fostered a potentially dangerous psychological breach between Japan and Asian neighbors.

Japan is Asia's richest, most technically advanced power. But it has played only a timid role in building the region's new trade and security systems. By contrast, Germany has played a major role in promoting European unity after accepting full responsibility for its past.

During the Cold War, Japan was able to downplay relations with Asia and follow the foreign and security policy lead of the United States. That era is now over. With Tokyo and Washington growing apart over economics and China developing its military strength, Japan must play a more forthright role in the region.

It can start by squarely facing up to its record in World War II.

-- The New York Times