Q: Hosei Norota, chairman of the Budget Committee of the Lower House of Japan and former defense chief has recently claimed that the independence of the countries in Southeast Asia was a result of the war launched by Japan. What is your comment on such remarks of ?meritorious invasion??

A: The aggression war staged by the Japanese militarists has brought about grave suffering to the people in the victimized countries. The crimes were too numerous to recount and no one could deny. The absurd remarks of ?meritorious invasion? reflect how ignorant and arrogant a few people in Japan are on the question of history. The remarks can not but make people more vigilant on the similar political tendency in Japan.