Japanese politicians should stop distorting history and trying to revive their country's militarism and evil past

Whatever words and tactics Shinzo Abe uses for self-defense, the ultra-rightist Japanese prime minister should face up to history and bear in mind that paying respect to the feelings of Asian victims has never been an academic issue. Instead, it is a serious human, political and diplomatic issue.

For a period of time after his reelection as Japan's prime minister at the end of last year, Abe chose to conceal his extremist political inclinations and focus attention on domestic economic development in a bid to win public approval and consolidate his political support. Such an option helped Abe gain a high public approval rating, but his remarks and behavior concerning the historical issue in the following months have betrayed his innermost political nature.