by TOTSUKA ETSURO
General power of attorney to Lee Wan-Yong signed and sealed by the last emperor, Sunjong on August 22, 1910. Wikipedia
At the centenary of Japan’s Annexation of the Korean Empire in August 2010, speculation centered on whether Japan could achieve a radical departure from its traditional foreign policy of ‘Datsu-A Nyu-Ou”1, namely leaving Asia to become a Western style country. This policy, resulted in Japan’s colonization of Korea in August 1910 and led further to the invasion of China and other Asian nations, ending in Japan`s utter defeat in August 1945.
The statement2 by Prime Minister Kan Naoto released on 10 August 2010 ahead of the 29 August centennial of Japan’s annexation of the Korean Peninsula went further than any other postwar Japanese PM. In it he said,
“This year marks a significant juncture for the Japan-Republic of Korea relationship. In August precisely 100 years ago, the Japan-Korea Annexation Treaty was concluded, marking the beginning of the colonial rule of 36 years. As demonstrated by strong resistance such as the Samil independence movement, the Korean people of that time were deprived of their country and culture, and their ethnic pride was deeply scarred by the colonial rule which was imposed against their will under the political and military circumstances.
I would like to face history with sincerity. I would like to have the courage to squarely confront the facts of history and to accept them with humility, as well as to be honest to reflect upon our own errors. Those who inflict pain tend to forget it while those who suffered cannot forget it easily. To the tremendous damage and sufferings that this colonial rule caused, I express here once again my feelings of deep remorse and my heartfelt apology.”
Despite some positive points, however, Kan’s statement failed to clarify one of the thorniest controversies between the close neighbouring countries. He remained silent on the illegal nature of the 1910 annexation treaty of Korea by Japan, despite the fact that not only the government, but also scholars as well as citizens of the Republic of Korea, have been strongly insisting that the 1910 Japan-Korea Annexation Treaty was null and void ab initio.
The Asia Pacific Journal for more