Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe convened a panel of experts last week to advise him on what to say during events that mark the 70th anniversary of the end of WWII on August 15. The international community is highly concerned about whether his speech will include the Murayama Statement and the Kono Statement. Abe raised a five-point agenda for panel discussions. The first concerns what lessons Japan should learn from the course of the 20th century, while the remaining four concern Japan's pacifism and the country's contribution to the world, which apparently are to be given the thumbs up.

Earlier, Abe said he would inherit past cabinets' historical recognition as a whole in his statement, but it doesn't mean he will use the same words as in previous statements, such as "deep remorse" and "heartfelt apology." Katsuya Okada, leader of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), said that Abe's declaration indicates that his statement would abandon the key spirit of the Murayama Statement. Such criticism and concerns are prevalent in Japan.

Analysts believe Abe resists the Murayama Statement and the Kono Statement in his heart, but he faces constraint from the opposition and diplomatically speaking, he has to improve ties with China and South Korea who are particularly concerned about his stance toward history. The US also keeps a close eye on him, while Abe pushes his every move to see just how far he can go.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the end of the anti-fascism war. It will be silly to deny or understate Japan's atrocities in the Asia-Pacific.

However, the Japanese right believes admitting and apologizing for the country's past atrocities is shameful, whereas denying them is courageous. Yet what previous Japanese leaders have said is far from enough compared with their German counterparts who expressed their deep remorse toward the country's wrongdoings in WWII.

Countries like China and South Korea are not as tolerant as the Japanese right expects and cannot forget the pains brought by the war. We cannot turn a blind eye to Japan's past militarist crimes and the clumsy behavior of some Japanese politicians. If Abe does not reflect Japan's past in his statement, the Chinese and South Korean public will definitely protest. The world will be clearer about what Japan did during WWII. The misconduct of the Japanese government will bring humiliation to the country in front of the world.

Abe should adopt an open mind-set toward historical issues rather than displaying artifice. There are five months left for Abe to make his statement. He had better use this time to do the right thing.