Ex-senior White House official blasts Japan's view on history◎共同社（2013.06.13）

【Comment】

中英文有點不同。

美國前高官對安倍政府歷史認識提出警告◎共同社（2013.06.13）http://tchina.kyodonews.jp/news/2013/06/54031.html

　　【共同社華盛頓6月13日電】美國前國家安全委員會亞洲事務高級主任傑弗裡·貝德12日在華盛頓出席美智庫主辦的研討會時指出，若安倍晉三政府修改就日本的侵略和殖民統治歷史道歉的“村山談話”，美國不會坐視不理，暗示日美同盟也可能受到影響。

　　貝德的此番言論再次凸顯出美國對於同鄰國產生摩擦的日本領導人的歷史認識深感憂慮。

　　貝德對安倍政府希望通過本國防衛和日美同盟擔負起重大責任表示歡迎，並稱修憲等問題由“日本判斷”，美國不應插手。

Ex-senior White House official blasts Japan's view on history◎共同社（2013.06.13）http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/kyodo-news-international/130613/ex-senior-white-house-official-blasts-japans-view-hist

A former senior U.S. government official criticized Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and other leaders Wednesday for their views on history with neighboring countries before and during World War II.

Jeffrey Bader, former senior adviser for Asian affairs of the National Security Council, also warned the U.S. government could be more "vocal" if Japan reviewed past statements in which the government formally apologized for wartime aggressions in other Asian countries.

"The handling of historical issues in the last couple of months by Japanese leaders has not been adroit, to put it mildly," Bader told a symposium in Washington .  He assumed the post in the first term of President Barack Obama .

Bader also mentioned Abe's controversial remark earlier this year that the word "invasion" has no established definition in the context of Japan's wartime rule over neighboring countries.

He also refereed to visits by some members of Abe's Cabinet, including Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso , and more than 160 other parliamentarians, to Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine, which worships Class-A Japanese war criminals along with war dead.

The other Asian countries such as China and South Korea have reacted sharply to the remarks and events.

"This is the worst possible environment for a major debate" on Japan's future security, Bader said.

Bader also blasted Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto , who came under fire after he said Japan's wartime system of sexual servitude was necessary.  Bader branded the remark "crazy."  Hashimoto also co-heads a major opposition party in parliament.

If Japan adheres to the past apology statements by the prime minister and the chief Cabinet secretary on the military aggression and the sex slavery, it would be fine, Bader said.  "But if we see more of this...I think we're going to have to become more vocal.

==Kyodo

Copyright 2013 Kyodo News International.