Taiwan on Tuesday called a public apology made by Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi over Japan's atrocities during World War II "positive and constructive", providing the lone positive voice toward Koizumi's remarks in Asia, dpa reported. "Prime Minister Koizumi's apology over Japan's wartime atrocities and his decision not to visit the Yasukumi Shrine are moves with diplomatic significance, which are positive and constructive," said Taiwanese Foreign Ministry spokesman Michel Lu. His comment came after Koizumi, in a televised speech on Monday, expressed "deep reflection and heartfelt apology" for Japan's wartime atrocities and did not join two of his cabinet members and 50 members of parliament in visiting the shrine, which honours Japanese war dead, including convicted and executed war criminals. He said Koizumi's act lived up to the expectation of Taiwan, which will seek to further promote bilateral exchanges and cooperation with Japan. "History is a mirror which allows people to see the consequences of what they do," Lu said, adding that Japan has learned the lesson and has made contributions to the world in politics, economy, technology and peace. Taiwan was the only voice lauding Japan, whose crimes committed during World War II and occupations of its Asian neighbours continue to cast a bitter shadow over the continent. Condemnations from other countries that Japan's textbooks continue to whitewash its wartime history and that Japan has not done enough to atone have seen its ties with other Asian countries fall to low points recently. --mor 1358 Local Time 1058 GMT
