As the world prepares to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the victory against fascist forces in World War II and the triumph of the Chinese people in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1937-45), the spotlight will be on former fascist powers, especially Japan, and their attitude toward their war crimes.

In a statement issued on Aug 15, 1995, half a century after the end of WWII, then Japanese prime minister Tomiichi Murayama expressed deep remorse over Japan's wartime invasion of and atrocities committed on neighboring countries. He said mutual trust and understanding between Japan and its Asian neighbors were vital to forge a stable Asia-Pacific region and a peaceful world.

Moreover, Murayama admitted that Japan's decision to wage a series of wars was wrong, which caused nothing but misery to the people in the victim countries, including China and the Republic of Korea.