Washington's dubious silence on Abe revisionism

A sincere apology from revisionist Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in his speech on Friday, a day ahead of the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II on Aug 15, would help put his long controversial views on history behind him and help the region move forward.

Yet, no one is really sure whether Abe will use the words "heartfelt apology" as former Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama did in 1995 in what is now known as the Murayama Statement, or indeed if Abe is going to apologize at all.

If an apology is too much for Abe to express his "remorse" for the brutal Japanese militarism which inflicted huge sufferings on people in neighboring countries before and during WWII, it means whatever he is going to say to build bridges will be insincere.