Friday, November 29, 2013

Why Are Japan’s Apologies Forgotten?

Japan has in fact apologized repeatedly for its wartime past. So why haven’t they resonated?



The “history” debate that constantly attends Japan postulates that the country has never apologized for past aggression within the region. In fact, Japan has provided Asian countries with assistance that was a form of compensation. The Asian Women’s Fund lacked clarity, but Tokyo offered payments to victims of sexual slavery. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama declared in 1995 that Japan’s “colonial rule and aggression (…) caused tremendous damage and suffering,” expressing his “remorse and (…) heartfelt apology.”

Earlier, in 1993, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yohei Kono spoke of “the involvement of the military authorities” in the “comfort women” issue and added that “Japan would like (…) to extend its sincere apologies and remorse to all those (…) who suffered immeasurable pain and incurable (…) wounds.” Several prime ministers wrote to surviving sex slaves noting that “with an involvement of the Japanese military (…) [it] was a grave affront to the honor and dignity of large numbers of women. (…) our country, painfully aware of its moral responsibilities, with feelings of apology and remorse, should face up squarely to its past.”

This is far more apologizing and contrition than the world average.

So why has Japan gained so little recognition for these actions? One reason, noted previously, is that its Axis partner, Germany, has performed better on the atonement front. But this is not the only factor.

Another one is international politics. Strategic imperatives dictated that Israel, Western Europe and, after the Cold War, Central European states better their ties with the Federal Republic of Germany. In Asia, however, Japan’s position has deteriorated. In the 1970s and 1980s, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), not wasting much time on the past, wanted Tokyo’s money, which it got in vast amounts. Today, Beijing no longer needs the cash. Japan’s ally, the U.S., has replaced the Soviets as the enemy. Moreover, the CCP now fosters Japanophobia to bolster its chauvinistic credentials.

South Korea was a poor autocracy when it normalized relations with Japan in 1965. It received Japanese economic assistance as part of the treaty, but Seoul indemnified Japan against claims related to the colonial era. Since democratization in the late 1980s, many Korean leaders have worked hard to better relations with Japan. However, there are also electoral incentives to play the “anti-Japan card.” Being labeled “soft on Japan” is a curse. This is particularly true for President Park Geun-hye, whose father, the late general-president, began his rise as a lieutenant in the Army of Japanese Manchukuo (a patriotic choice, but one that carries an image problem today).

Economic success has freed South Korea from foreign assistance. Its judiciary is also now independent. Recently, the Supreme Court ruled that the 1965 treaty with Japan violated the constitutional right of Koreans to seek redress against Japan. Japanese diplomacy has failed to adapt to this new era in Korean politics.

Finally, several Japanese leaders have eviscerated past apologies. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe dispatches offerings to the Yasukuni Shrine, whose message is aggressively antagonistic to the Kono and Murayama views. Pilgrims at Yasukuni since Abe returned to power have included Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso and Senior Vice Foreign Minister Nobuo Kishi, brother to the prime minister.

On November 4, 2012, a number of Japanese public figures ran an ad in a U.S. newspaper. It denied that the military coerced comfort women, going against the letter and spirit of Japanese official policy. Among the “assentors”  listed are Shinzo Abe, who was about to return as premier, and other politicians. The text provides links to “The Nanking Hoax” and similar articles. Abe now officially accepts the Kono and Murayama statements, but his unconcealed love of Yasukuni, the behavior of those he has appointed to high office, and his indirect affiliation with “deniers” ensures that most foreigners and Japanese think he leads a cabinet of “revisionists.

Koreans also noted reports that Japanese diplomats complained to a New Jersey town about a memorial to the “comfort women.” (The Japanese side was unwilling to discuss the matter, so the facts remain unclear.) This occurred under the DPJ administration of Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, showing that the LDP is not the only source of hostility to the Murayama-Kono statements.

Additionally, Japan claims ownership of the Korean-controlled Liancourt Rocks (Dokdo in Korean, Takeshima in Japanese). This elicits anger in Korea. The posting of Japanese government videos on Japan’s right to Takeshima helps convince South Koreans that Japan is its foe.

Another recent episode, which is minor but illustrative, concerns Ahn Jung-guen, the Korean assassin of the Japanese Resident General in Korea in 1909. Referring to plans to erect an Ahn statue in China, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga called him a “criminal.” One of my alma maters, Yale University, boasts a sculpture of Nathan Hale, a colonial subject and activist who, like Ahn, was hanged by the authorities of the day. But one would not imagine Her Britannic Majesty’s government taking offense. Former colonies routinely honor those who fought the occupiers, often in barbaric ways.

Interestingly, in 1964, Prime Minister Eisaku Sato (Abe’s grand-uncle) awarded the Grand Cordon of the Rising Sun to the American General Curtis LeMay, whose B-29s incinerated Japanese cities during the war. Koreans might be surprised to learn that Ahn, who like the American aviator considered he was waging a just war on Japan, is a “criminal” but that LeMay belongs to a select group of foreigners granted prestigious decorations (he was thanked for his work with the Japanese Air Self-Defense Forces, but it is unlikely premier Sato was unaware of that LeMay’s men killed around 100,000 civilians in Tokyo alone).

The Ahn statue in China rightly worries Tokyo, which it sees as a sign of a Sino-Korean bloc against Japan. But the more Japan fails to see how Koreans view the past, the more Koreans will dislike Japan.

Reaping dividends from the Kono and Murayama Statements, apologies, and compensation, was always going to be hard. Japan’s current cabinet, and some of its predecessors, have done everything they can to minimize the payout.

List of war apology statements issued by Japan

1950s

    1957: Prime Minister Kishi Nobusuke said to the people of Burma: "We view with deep regret the vexation we caused to the people of Burma in the war just passed. In a desire to atone, if only partially, for the pain suffered, Japan is prepared to meet fully and with goodwill its obligations for war reparations. The Japan of today is not the Japan of the past, but, as its Constitution indicates, is a peace-loving nation."

    1957: Prime Minister Kishi Nobusuke said to the people of Australia: "It is my official duty, and my personal desire, to express to you and through you to the people of Australia, our heartfelt sorrow for what occurred in the war."

1960s

    June 22, 1965: Minister of Foreign Affairs Shiina Etsusaburo said to the people of the Republic of Korea: "In our two countries' long history there have been unfortunate times, it is truly regrettable and we are deeply remorseful" (Signing of the Treaty on Basic Relations between Japan and South Korea).

1970s

    September 29, 1972: Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka said to the people of the People's Republic of China: "The Japanese side is keenly conscious of the responsibility for the serious damage that Japan caused in the past to the Chinese people through war, and deeply reproaches itself. Further, the Japanese side reaffirms its position that it intends to realize the normalization of relations between the two countries from the stand of fully understanding 'the three principles for the restoration of relations' put forward by the Government of the People's Republic of China. The Chinese side expresses its welcome for this" (Joint Communique of the Government of Japan and the Government of the People's Republic of China).

1980s

    August 24, 1982: Prime Minister Zenko Suzuki said: "I am painfully aware of Japan's responsibility for inflicting serious damages [on Asian nations] during the past war." "We need to recognize that there are criticisms that condemn [Japan's occupation] as invasion" (Press Conference on Textbook issue).

    August 26, 1982: Chief Cabinet Secretary Kiichi Miyazawa said to the people of the Republic of Korea: "1. The Japanese Government and the Japanese people are deeply aware of the fact that acts by our country in the past caused tremendous suffering and damage to the peoples of Asian countries, including the Republic of Korea (ROK) and China, and have followed the path of a pacifist state with remorse and determination that such acts must never be repeated. Japan has recognized, in the Japan-ROK Joint Communique, of 1965, that the 'past relations are regrettable, and Japan feels deep remorse,' and in the Japan-China Joint Communique, that Japan is 'keenly conscious of the responsibility for the serious damage that Japan caused in the past to the Chinese people through war and deeply reproaches itself.' These statements confirm Japan's remorse and determination which I stated above and this recognition has not changed at all to this day. 2. This spirit in the Japan-ROK Joint Communique, and the Japan-China Joint Communique, naturally should also be respected in Japan's school education and textbook authorization.

    September 6, 1984: Emperor Hirohito said to President Chun Doo Hwan: "It is indeed regrettable that there was an unfortunate past between us for a period in this century and I believe that it should not be repeated again." (Meeting with President Chun Doo Hwan.)

    September 7, 1984: Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone said: "There was a period in this century when Japan brought to bear great sufferings upon your country and its people. I would like to state here that the government and people of Japan feel a deep regret for this error."

    October 23, 1985: Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone, in a speech to the United Nations, said: "On June 6, 1945, when the UN Charter was signed in San Francisco, Japan was still fighting a senseless war with 40 nations. Since the end of the war, Japan has profoundly regretted the unleashing of rampant ultra nationalism and militarism and the war that brought great devastation to the people of many countries around the world and to our country as well" (Speech to the United Nations).

    1989: Prime Minister Takeshita Noboru, in a speech in the Japanese Diet, said:"As we have made clear previously at repeated opportunities, the Japanese government and the Japanese people are deeply conscious of the fact that the actions of our country in the past caused suffering and loss to many people in neighboring countries. Starting from our regret and resolve not to repeat such things a second time, we have followed a course as a "Peace Nation" since then. This awareness and regret should be emphasized especially in the relationship between our countries and the Korean peninsula, our nearest neighbors both geographically and historically. At this opportunity as we face a new situation in the Korean peninsula, again, to all peoples of the globe, concerning the relationship of the past, we want to express our deep regret and sorrow (Speech in the Japanese Diet).

1990s

    April 18, 1990: Minister of Foreign Affairs Taro Nakayama said to the people of the Republic of Korea: "Japan is deeply sorry for the tragedy in which these (Korean) people were moved to Sakhalin not of their own free will but by the design of the Japanese government and had to remain there after the conclusion of the war" (188th National Diet Session Lower House Committee of Foreign Affairs).

    May 24, 1990: Emperor Akihito, in a meeting with President Roh Tae Woo, said: "Reflecting upon the suffering that your people underwent during this unfortunate period, which was brought about by our nation, I cannot but feel the deepest remorse" (Meeting with President Roh Tae Woo).

    May 25, 1990: Prime Minister Toshiki Kaifu, in a meeting with President Roh Tae Woo, said: "I would like to take the opportunity here to humbly reflect upon how the people of the Korean Peninsula went through unbearable pain and sorrow as a result of our country's actions during a certain period in the past and to express that we are sorry" (Summit meeting with President Roh Tae Woo in Japan).

    January 1, 1992: Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa, in a press conference, said: "Concerning the comfort women, I apologize from the bottom of my heart and feel remorse for those people who suffered indescribable hardships".

    January 16, 1992: Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa, in a speech at dinner with President Roh Tae Woo, said: "We the Japanese people, first and foremost, have to bear in our mind the fact that your people experienced unbearable suffering and sorrow during a certain period in the past because of our nation's act, and never forget the feeling of remorse. I, as a prime minister, would like to once again express a heartfelt remorse and apology to the people of your nation".

    January 17, 1992: Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa, at a policy speech on a visit to South Korea, said:. "What we should not forget about relationship between our nation and your nation is a fact that there was a certain period in the thousands of years of our company when we were the victimizer and you were the victim. I would like to once again express a heartfelt remorse and apology for the unbearable suffering and sorrow that you experienced during this period because of our nation's act." Recently the issue of the so-called 'wartime comfort women' is being brought up. I think that incidents like this are seriously heartbreaking, and I am truly sorry".

    July 6, 1992. Chief Cabinet Secretary Koichi Kato said: "The Government again would like to express its sincere apology and remorse to all those who have suffered indescribable hardship as so-called 'wartime comfort women,' irrespective of their nationality or place of birth. With profound remorse and determination that such a mistake must never be repeated, Japan will maintain its stance as a pacifist nation and will endeavor to build up new future-oriented relations with the Republic of Korea and with other countries and regions in Asia. As I listen to many people, I feel truly grieved for this issue. By listening to the opinions of people from various directions, I would like to consider sincerely in what way we can express our feelings to those who suffered such hardship" (Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Koichi Kato on the Issue of the so-called "Wartime Comfort Women" from the Korean Peninsula).[17]

    August 4, 1993: Chief Cabinet Secretary Yōhei Kōno said: "Undeniably, this was an act, with the involvement of the military authorities of the day, that severely injured the honor and dignity of many women. The Government of Japan would like to take this opportunity once again to extend its sincere apologies and remorse to all those, irrespective of place of origin, who suffered immeasurable pain and incurable physical and psychological wounds as comfort women" (Statement by the Chief Cabinet Secretary Yohei Kono on the result of the study on the issue of "comfort women")

    August 11, 1993: Prime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa, at the first press conference after his inauguration, said: "I myself believe it was a war of aggression, a war that was wrong".

    August 23, 1993: Prime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa said in a speech at the 127th National Diet Session: "After 48 years from then, our nation has become one of nations that enjoy prosperity and peace. We must not forget that it is founded on the ultimate sacrifices in the last war, and a product of the achievements of the people of the previous generations. We would like to take this opportunity to clearly express our remorse for the past and a new determination to the world. Firstly at this occasion, we would like to express our deep remorse and apology for the fact that invasion and colonial rule by our nation in the past brought to bear great sufferings and sorrow upon many people" .

    September 24, 1993: Prime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa said, at the 128th National Diet Session:. "I used the expression war of aggression and act of aggression to express honestly my recognition which is the same as the one that the act of our nation in the past brought to bear unbearable sufferings and sorrow upon many people, and to express once again deep remorse and apology".

    August 31, 1994: Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama said in a speech: "Japan's actions in a certain period of the past not only claimed numerous victims here in Japan but also left the peoples of neighboring Asia and elsewhere with scars that are painful even today. I am thus taking this opportunity to state my belief, based on my profound remorse for these acts of aggression, colonial rule, and the like caused such unbearable suffering and sorrow for so many people, that Japan's future path should be one of making every effort to build world peace in line with my no-war commitment. It is imperative for us Japanese to look squarely to our history with the peoples of neighboring Asia and elsewhere. Only with solid basis of mutual understanding and confidence that can be built through overcoming the pain on both sides, can we and the peoples of neighboring countries together clear up the future of Asia-Pacific.... On the issue of wartime 'comfort women,' which seriously stained the honor and dignity of many women, I would like to take this opportunity once again to express my profound and sincere remorse and apologies. With regard to this issue as well, I believe that one way of demonstrating such feelings of apologies and remorse is to work to further promote mutual understanding with the countries and areas concerned as well as to face squarely to the past and ensure that it is rightly conveyed to future generations. This initiative, in this sense, has been drawn up consistent with such belief" (Statement by Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama on the "Peace, Friendship, and Exchange Initiative").

    June 9, 1995: House of Representatives, National Diet of Japan passed a resolution stating: "On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II, this House offers its sincere condolences to those who fell in action and victims of wars and similar actions all over the world. Solemnly reflecting upon many instances of colonial rule and acts of aggression in the modern history of the world, and recognizing that Japan carried out those acts in the past, inflicting pain and suffering upon the peoples of other countries, especially in Asia, the Members of this House express a sense of deep remorse" (Resolution to renew the determination for peace on the basis of lessons learned from history).

    July 1995: Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama said in a statement: "The problem of the so-called wartime comfort women is one such scar, which, with the involvement of the Japanese military forces of the time, seriously stained the honor and dignity of many women. This is entirely inexcusable. I offer my profound apology to all those who, as wartime comfort women, suffered emotional and physical wounds that can never be closed" (Statement by Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama on the occasion of the establishment of the "Asian Women's Fund").

    August 15, 1995: Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama said in a statement: "During a certain period in the not-too-distant past, Japan, through its colonial rule and aggression, caused tremendous damage and suffering to the people of many countries, particularly those of Asia. In the hope that no such mistake will be made in the future, I regard, in a spirit of humanity, these irrefutable facts of history, and express here once again my feelings of deep remorse and state my heartfelt apology" (Statement by Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama 'On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the war's end').

    June 23, 1996: Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto said in a press conference: "Hashimoto mentioned the aspects of Japan's colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula such as the forced Japanization of Korean people's name and commented "It is beyond imagination how this injured the hearts of Korean people" Hashimoto also touched on the issue of Korean comfort women and said "Nothing injured the honor and dignity of women more than this and I would like to extend words of deep remorse and the heartfelt apology" (Joint press conference at summit meeting with President Kim Young Sam in South Korea).

    October 8, 1996: Emperor Akihito said in a speech at a dinner with the South Korean president, Kim Dae Jung: "There was a period when our nation brought to bear great sufferings upon the people of the Korean Peninsula." "The deep sorrow that I feel over this will never be forgotten".

    January 13, 1998: Press Secretary published: "Statement by Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto on World War II prisoners of war. Q: At the meeting last night with Prime Minister Blair, did Prime Minister Hashimoto really apologize for the prisoners of war. Spokesman Hashimoto: The important thing is that the Prime Minister of Japan expressed the feelings of deep remorse and stated heartfelt apologies to the people who suffered in World War II directly to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. This was the second meeting between Prime Minister Hashimoto and Prime Minister Blair and we considered the meeting very important, especially this year. Making use of this opportunity, Prime Minister Hashimoto expressed his remorse and apology on behalf of the Government of Japan; this is very important. Prime Minister Blair fully understands the importance of the statement made by Prime Minister Hashimoto on this issue. His press opportunities after the talks objectively reflect what the two gentlemen talked about" (Press Conference by the Press Secretary).[28] In a follow-up interview, spokesman Tanaka for Prime Minister Hashimoto clarified that "Our sense of apology and our sense of remorse was addressed to all the countries which have gone through the experiences of the last world war."

    July 15, 1998: Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto, in a letter to the Netherlands Prime Minister Willem Kok: "The Government of Japan, painfully aware of its moral responsibility concerning the issue of so-called "wartime comfort women," has been sincerely addressing this issue in close cooperation with the Asian Women's Fund which implements the projects to express the national atonement on this issue. Recognizing that the issue of comfort women, with an involvement of the Japanese military authorities at that time, was a grave affront to the honor and dignity of large numbers of women, I would like to convey to Your Excellency my most sincere apologies and remorse to all the women who underwent immeasurable and painful experiences and suffered incurable physical and psychological wounds as comfort women.... By the Statement of Prime Minister in 1995, the Government of Japan renewed the feelings of deep remorse and the heartfelt apology for tremendous damage and suffering caused by Japan to the people of many countries including the Netherlands during a certain period in the past. My cabinet has not modified this position at all, and I myself laid a wreath to the Indisch Monument with these feelings on the occasion of my visit to the Netherlands in June last year" (The contents of the letter of the then Japanese Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto sent to ).

    October 8, 1998: Prime Minister Keizō Obuchi said in a declaration: "Looking back on the relations between Japan and the Republic of Korea during this century, Prime Minister Obuchi regarded in a spirit of humility the fact of history that Japan caused, during a certain period in the past, tremendous damage and suffering to the people of the Republic of Korea through its colonial rule, and expressed his deep remorse and heartfelt apology for this fact. President Kim accepted with sincerity this statement of Prime Minister Obuchi's recognition of history and expressed his appreciation for it. He also expressed his view that the present calls upon both countries to overcome their unfortunate history and to build a future-oriented relationship based on reconciliation as well as good-neighborly and friendly cooperation" (Japan-South Korea Joint Declaration A New Japan-South Korea Partnership towards the Twenty-first Century).

    November 26, 1998: Prime Minister Keizō Obuchi said in a declaration: "Both sides believe that squarely facing the past and correctly understanding history are the important foundation for further developing relations between Japan and China. The Japanese side observes the 1972 Joint Communique of the Government of Japan and the Government of the People's Republic of China and the August 15, 1995 Statement by former Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama. The Japanese side is keenly conscious of the responsibility for the serious distress and damage that Japan caused to the Chinese people through its aggression against China during a certain period in the past and expressed deep remorse for this. The Chinese side hopes that the Japanese side will learn lessons from the history and adhere to the path of peace and development. Based on this, both sides will develop long-standing relations of friendship" (Japan-China Joint Declaration On Building a Partnership of Friendship and Cooperation for Peace and Development).

2000s

    August 10, 2000: Consul-General of Japan in Hong Kong Itaru Umezu said: "In fact, Japan has clearly and repeatedly expressed its sincere remorse and apologies, and has dealt sincerely with reparation issues. These apologies were irrefutably expressed, in particular in Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama's official statement in 1995, which was based on a cabinet decision and which has subsequently been upheld by successive prime ministers, including Prime Minister Yoshirō Mori. Mr. Murayama said that Japan 'through its colonial rule and aggression, caused tremendous damage and suffering to the people of many countries, particularly to those of Asian nations. In the hope that no such mistake be made in the future, I regard, in a spirit of humility, these irrefutable facts of history, and express here once again my feelings of deep remorse and state my heartfelt apology'" (Japan Has Faced Its Past. Far Eastern Economic Review, August 10, 2000).

    August 30, 2000: Minister for Foreign Affairs Yōhei Kōno said in an address during his visit to the People's Republic of China: "I believe that Japan's perception of history was clearly set out in the Statement by Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama issued, following a Cabinet Decision, on the fiftieth anniversary of the end of World War II. As a member of the Cabinet, I participated in the drafting of that Statement. The spirit contained therein has been carried forth by successive administrations and is now the common view of the large number of Japanese people" (Address by Minister for Foreign Affairs Yōhei Kōno During His Visit to the People's Republic of China).

    April 3, 2001: Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda said: "Japan humbly accepts that for a period in the not too distant past, it caused tremendous damage and suffering to the people of many countries, particularly to those of Asian nations, through its colonial rule and aggression, and expresses its deep remorse and heartfelt apology for this. Such recognition has been succeeded by subsequent Cabinets and there is no change regarding this point in the present Cabinet" (Comments by the Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yasuo Fukuda on the history textbooks to be used in junior high schools from 2002).

    September 8, 2001: Minister for Foreign Affairs Makiko Tanaka said in a speech: "We have never forgotten that Japan caused tremendous damage and suffering to the people of many countries during the last war. Many lost their precious lives and many were wounded. The war has left an incurable scar on many people, including former prisoners of war. Facing these facts of history in a spirit of humility, I reaffirm today our feelings of deep remorse and heartfelt apology expressed in the Prime Minister Murayama's statement of 1995" (Speech by Minister for Foreign Affairs Makiko Tanaka at the Ceremony in Commemoration of 50th anniversary of the Signing of the San Francisco Peace Treaty).

    October 15, 2001: Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said: "During the talks, President Kim highly appreciated the words of the Prime Minister Koizumi at Sodaemun Independence Park, in which he expressed remorse and apology for Japan's colonial domination" (Japanese prime minister visits South Korea).

    2001: Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi (Also signed by all the prime ministers since 1995, including Ryutaro Hashimoto, Keizō Obuchi, Yoshirō Mori) said in a letter: "As Prime Minister of Japan, I thus extend anew my most sincere apologies and remorse to all the women who underwent immeasurable and painful experiences and suffered incurable physical and psychological wounds as comfort women. We must not evade the weight of the past, nor should we evade our responsibilities for the future. I believe that our country, painfully aware of its moral responsibilities, with feelings of apology and remorse, should face up squarely to its past history and accurately convey it to future generations" (Letter from Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to the former comfort women).

    September 17, 2002: Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said: "The Japanese side regards, in a spirit of humility, the facts of history that Japan caused tremendous damage and suffering to the people of Korea through its colonial rule in the past, and expressed deep remorse and heartfelt apology" (Japan-DPRK Pyongyang Declaration).

    August 15, 2003: Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said: "During the war, Japan caused tremendous damage and suffering to the people of many countries, particularly to those of Asian nations. On behalf of the people of Japan, I hereby renew my feelings of profound remorse as I express my sincere mourning to the victims" (Address by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi at the 58th Memorial Ceremony for the War Dead).

    April 22, 2005: Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said: "Japan squarely faces these facts of history in a spirit of humility. And with feelings of deep remorse and heartfelt apology always engraved in mind, Japan has resolutely maintained, consistently since the end of World War II, never turning into a military power but an economic power, its principle of resolving all matters by peaceful means, without recourse to use of force. Japan once again states its resolve to contribute to the peace and prosperity of the world in the future as well, prizing the relationship of trust it enjoys with the nations of the world." (Address by the Prime Minister of Japan at the Asia-African Summit 2005).

    August 15, 2005: Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said: "In the past, Japan, through its colonial rule and aggression, caused tremendous damage and suffering to the people of many countries, particularly to those of Asian nations. Sincerely facing these facts of history, I once again express my feelings of deep remorse and heartfelt apology, and also express the feelings of mourning for all victims, both at home and abroad, in the war. I am determined not to allow the lessons of that horrible war to erode, and to contribute to the peace and prosperity of the world without ever again waging a war."

    March 1, 2007: Prime Minister Shinzō Abe stated in a newspaper article that there was no evidence that the Japanese government had kept sex slaves, even though the Japanese government had already admitted the use of brothels in 1993. On March 27, the Japanese parliament issued an official apology.[43] This was regarding the surviving comfort women who had demanded an apology from the Japanese government for being used as sex slaves.

    May 9, 2009: The Japanese government, through its ambassador in the U.S., apologized to former American prisoners of war who suffered in the Bataan Death March.

2010s

    February 11, 2010: Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada said: "I believe what happened 100 years ago deprived Koreans of their country and national pride. I can understand the feelings of the people who lost their country and had their pride wounded," Okada said during a joint news conference with South Korean Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan. (This was a statement marking the 100th anniversary of Japan's colonial annexation of Korea, and not in reference to Japan's war acts in particular.)

    August 10, 2010: Prime Minister Naoto Kan expressed "deep regret over the suffering inflicted" during the Empire of Japan's colonial rule over Korea. Japan's Kyodo News also reported that Cabinet members endorsed the statement. In addition, Kan said that Japan will hand over precious cultural artifacts that South Korea has been demanding. Among them were records of an ancient Korean royal dynasty.

    September 13, 2010: Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada apologized to a group of six former American soldiers who during World War II were held as prisoners of war by the Japanese, including 90-year-old Lester Tenney, a survivor of the Bataan Death March in 1942. The six and their families and the families of two deceased soldiers were invited to visit Japan at the expense of the Japanese government in a program that will see more American former prisoners of war and former prisoners of war from other countries visit Japan in the future.

    December 7, 2010: Prime Minister Naoto Kan apologized for Korea's suffering under colonization as part of a statement marking the 100th anniversary of the annexation in 1910. "I express a renewed feeling of deep remorse and state my heartfelt apology for the tremendous damage and suffering caused by colonial rule," Kan said. Kan said Japan colonized Korea "against the will of the Korean people" who suffered great damage to their national pride and loss of culture and sovereignty as a result and added that he wants to take an honest look at his country's past with the courage and humility to address its history.

    March 3, 2011: Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara apologized to a group of Australian POWs visiting Japan as guests of the Government of Japan for the ill-treatment they received while in Imperial Japanese captivity.

    December 8, 2011: Parliamentary Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Toshiyuki Kat apologized to Canada for their treatment of Canadian POW's after the Battle of Hong Kong.

    April 9, 2012: Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Toshinao Urabe reiterated Japan's apologies for atrocities in the Philippines, declaring, “I also hereby express our heartfelt apologies and deep sense of remorse for the tragedy.

The Power Of Good -75 Years Ago, This British Stockbroker Saved 669 Children From Nazi Death Camps

Sir Nicholas Winton (C) poses in
                                front of the Winton train at Liverpool
                                Street station in central London. REUTERS/Toby Melville

Sir Nicholas Winton poses in front of the Winton train at Liverpool Street station in central London in 2009. The historical train departed from Prague on Tuesday to re-trace the original route from Prague to London with several survivors and descendants of 669 so-called "Winton's children" on board.
On Dec. 3, 1938, a British stockbroker made the impromptu decision to cancel his skiing vacation and join a friend in Prague, who had desperately asked for his help. The decision changed his life and saved the lives of 669 people in the process. Nicholas Winton, now 104 years-old, joined his friend Martin Blake in Czechoslovakia to help refugees created by the German annexation of the Sudentenland.

YouTube


Winton was of German Jewish ancestry and had heard of the violence against Jewish communities in Germany and Austria, especially the infamous Kristellnacht. After hearing about the Kinderstransport, an effort of British Jewish agencies to bring 10,000 Jewish children to Great Britain, Winton knew he had to arrange a similar operation in Czechoslovakia.
Winton explained how the operation got started in The Power Of Good: Nicholas Winton, a documentary on his efforts:

"I found out that the children of refugees and other groups of people who were enemies of Hitler weren't being looked after. I decided to try to get permits to Britain for them. I found out that the conditions which were laid down for bringing in a child were chiefly that you had a family that was willing and able to look after the child, and £50, which was quite a large sum of money in those days, that was to be deposited at the Home Office. The situation was heartbreaking. Many of the refugees hadn't the price of a meal. Some of the mothers tried desperately to get money to buy food for themselves and their children. The parents desperately wanted at least to get their children to safety when they couldn't manage to get visas for the whole family. I began to realize what suffering there is when armies start to march."
Winton set up his rescue operation at his hotel in Prague, taking applications from parents and registering the children. The response was huge, with thousands of parents lining up.
Surprisingly, Winton recieved little resistance from the Nazis on his effort to move the children out of the country. 
"We were getting rid of those people Hitler wanted to get rid of," Winton told ABC News in 2008. "I mean, you even had the Gestapo at Wilson Station helping the children onto the trains."
After a few weeks, Winton left Trevor Chadwick in charge of the Prague operation and returned to London to negotiate where the children would go. Only Great Britain and Sweden agreed to take the children. 

Original legal documents are held
                                by one of the so-called "Winton's
                                children." REUTERS/Toby Melville
Original legal documents for entry into Great Britain are held by one of the so-called "Winton's children.”
To get foster families willing to pay the £50 fee for each child, Winton advertised in newspapers, churches, and synagogues with pictures of the children. The effort worked. 
The last train of children left Prague on August 22, 1939. By the time it was all said and done, he had saved 669 children.
His greatest regret is that he could not save more. There was to be another train of children on September 1st, but Hitler’s Germany invaded Poland that day. All borders were closed. The children were never heard from again.
Winton never told anyone of his mission, not even his wife, Grete. 50 years later, in 1988, his wife found a scrapbook with photos, documents, and the list of children. She brought it to a Holocaust historian, who arranged for Winton’s story to appear on BBC’s That’s Life. Unbeknownst to him, the audience at the taping was filled with his “children.”
You can see his emotional reaction here:

During an interview in 2008, Winton told a Slovakian teenager his philosophy on life: “You need to be prepared always to help other people if there is an opportunity to do so.”
“Winton’s children,” as they are called, have gone onto extraordinary lives. Here are just a few: 

 

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

宗庆后独女不适应中共国 痛斥大陆人丧失灵魂

宗宗后父女
宗馥莉与父亲宗庆后

中国富二代的代表人物宗馥莉痛斥中国人为追逐财富而丧失灵魂。她 认为评判中国不能只看经济指标,还要采用更广泛的社会标准,如街道是否清洁,人际关系是否友善等。

宗馥莉是中国第二富、杭州娃哈哈集团创办人宗庆后的独生女,她还批评富一代对子女娇 生惯养,导致下一代的人格缺失。

宗馥莉说:“中国人丧失了灵魂,在美国是信仰基督教和天主教,中国虽有佛教,但我不认为中国人会从内心相信。”

英国卫报报导,将成为父亲企业继承人的宗馥莉,在娃哈哈公司总部受访时表示:“中共政府知道目前的人格丧失问题,因此才倡导中国梦,灵魂的缺 失可能至少需要两代人的努力才能恢复。”她说:“我总是直言不讳,因此有人认为我不适应中国的社会。海外留学经历使我学会了更多地独立思考, 我不喜欢墨守成规。”

中国富二代的炫富引起广泛不 满,许多人批评富二代骄纵、自私和不检点。中国官方新华社最近发表评论认为,许多富二代不守规矩,伦理道德丧失。

宗馥莉认为她很幸运,从小就与父母一起生活,从他们身上学到很多优点。她说:“上一代人总想留给子女一份产业,这可以理解,但更不要忘记人格 上的教育,富二代被惯坏了。”

宗馥莉对中国社会的安全恶化 表示担忧,说她父亲最近被一名不满工作的农民工刺伤。她承担部分人在中国崛起的浪潮中落伍,“我理解他们的不满,但他们却不知道,我们是努力 奋斗才挣到钱的,馅饼不能从天上掉下来。我认为人人都应平等,尽管我比其他人掌握更多资源,但我的梦想仍要通过努力才能实现”
骆家辉辞 职 为何引发全中国一片骂声?

"我们的媒体总是对朝鲜同志微笑不已我们的同胞也从来不谴责印尼制造排华血债甚至有些国人对于那些到处闹事的穆斯林恐怖分子炸美国大楼拍手叫好"

With horde of fans

骆家辉的样子不像典型美国人,也不像典型中国人,而像一个传统美国华人。说起来的确有不少特点,不说中国话、不说多余的话、不说虚伪的话,不 说吹捧的话,不说自吹的话。。。如此等等,让人觉得他有些木讷,甚至有几分迂腐,因此中国人中对他有“老土”的评价,一半是看不惯,一半是褒 奖,谁也很难说的清。

我到觉得老骆是个非常有幽默感的人,这种幽默感是广东台山人特 有的,其他人不容易察觉。骆家辉最爱说的三个口头禅有三个:“我就是我”、“我不清楚为何他们这么说”和“就是这样的,没别的意思”,这叫着 “冷幽默”。中国人喜欢幽默,但不习惯“冷幽默”,因为冷幽默不直接批评对手,而是冷不丁给对手一个难堪,让对手有苦难言,最后还不得不认 输。

只要我们细细计算一下,就知道老骆这些个“我行我素”是如何在中国社会产生烙印的。这些烙印有个特点,每次都是从“不小心”开始,以“不知 道”结束,连他最终辞职也依然带来轰动。如网友“心路独舞”总结的几条:

·骆家辉辞职或暗示美国政府在调整对亚洲外交政策。

·网友调侃:骆家辉被北京雾霾吓倒了回去洗肺。

·骆家辉辞职为竞选下任总统做准备。

·骆家辉节俭亲民或惹北京厌恶?

·专家解读:骆家辉辞职或因当大使不够钱花?

·这一个就绝对没底线了——中国小三无坚不摧,骆 家辉辞职或因偷情?


又如网友“信天游人”所言:

骆家辉大使辞职,之所以在大陆有几种传言沸沸扬扬,我以为有两个原因:第一、按大陆人对官员仕途的惯性思维和推理,骆家辉在中国任内,有不少 引起社会各方关注,让民众喜欢却又让官员和媒体感到有些尴尬、难堪、不舒服的事迹。例如:举家赴任坐经济舱、海南博鳌论坛拒绝入住五星级酒 店、盲人陈光诚进入美国驻华使馆、陪美国副总统吃北京风味小吃、看望农民工、处置王立军进入美国驻成都领事馆事件……按中国人的思维,骆家辉大使仕途可谓风生水起,为家庭、孩子辞职非常“不合情理”,肯定另 有原因或有难言之隐,于是各种猜测应运而生。第二、老 百姓不乏调侃之意,其实大家明知道这些说法没啥真凭实据,但是也加入其中推波助澜,乐在其中。

由此可见,骆家辉的“冷幽默”到了中国人手中就成了“热炒 作”,这何尝不是骆家辉比前美国驻华大使洪博培更精彩的一面。美国人早就预计到了这点,把骆家辉放到中国就等候给美国播放活体广告,用一张华 人脸蛋让美国精神渗透中国人心,这和千千万万麦当劳、肯德基的中国人面孔广告用意一样。不过,令人疑惑的是为何中国驻美国大使不能也学习这 招?用中国官员的“雷锋精神”压倒美国官员的“自私自利”?用孔子学院的“知书达理”压倒美国的“自由民主”?用中国官员的廉洁奉公形象战胜 美国官员的“贪张枉法”?用崇高党性原则击败美国人的“跨党投票”习惯?这表面看是一种广告文化竞争,骨子里却是社会文化和制度竞争,双方实 力悬殊。

说也奇怪,对于美国这种“政治文化入侵”行为我们可以骂大街,而且引来满街人跟着起哄,而对于那些白拿白吃中国人的国家,我们却乐于保持缄 默。比如,我们的媒体总是对朝鲜同志微笑不已我们的同胞也从来不谴责印尼制造排华血债甚至有些国人对于那些到处闹事的穆斯林恐怖分子炸美国大楼拍手叫好,这足 以证明我们欺软怕硬。

在 不少中国人眼中,美国是全球最好欺负的国家,你不骂白不骂,骂了也不用赔偿,说不定还能获取道歉,也不会造成排华后果,不像骂朝鲜同志会 被开除公职,不像骂印尼排华造成民族对抗,不像骂恐怖分子让美国人高兴。也正因为如此,骂美国过瘾了才知道不骂时的不爽快,于是把骂美国 当成了一种最普遍的“指桑骂槐”的工具,可以天天骂,时时骂,骂死你个“不懂贪污腐败的骆家辉”,骂死你个“不知圣意的骆家辉”,骂死你 个“不拿回扣吃公款的骆家辉”,骂死你个“不敢于搞女人娶N奶的骆家辉”,骂死你个“数典忘祖不为祖国说话的骆家辉”,骂死你个“假仁假 义访贫问苦的骆家辉”,骂死你个“污蔑中国空气清洁度的骆家辉“,骂死你个“包庇民主人士的骆家辉”,骂死你个“不追求官场地位的骆家 辉”,骂死你个“麻烦制造者骆家辉”!

英媒分析了中国宣布设立东海防空识别区所造成的影响

 

英国的《泰晤士报》、《金融时报》 和《每日电讯报》今天都继续从不同角度报道和分析了中国宣布设立东海防空识别区所造成的影响。

 
另外,《金融时报》还刊载了有关马德里担心西班牙刑事法庭针对中共前任领导人江泽民 和李鹏的“逮捕通缉令”会影响西中经贸和外交关系的报道。

中日岛争

《泰晤士报》在世界版刊登分析报道称,北京宣布设立东海防空识别区使得中日在来年“发生军事冲突的危险剧增”。
报道引述西方分析人士的话说,中方的举动等于在一个原本已经随时可能出现麻烦的 地区“故意寻找”麻烦

文章指出,有关争议的核心是日本称作尖阁列岛,中国大陆称为钓鱼岛和台湾叫作钓鱼台列岛的主权归属问题。

日本自1970年代起已经实际管辖争议岛屿40多载, 近年来这个一度几乎被忘却岛礁的政治意义倍增。

分析称,以首相安倍晋三为代表的日本右翼视保卫尖阁诸岛主权为不向中国屈服的象征; 中 共则继续借助“抗日”以维系执政合法性并继而重新成为区域强权。

《金融时报》和《每日电讯报》的报道则相对简单,主要报道美国和日本对中国设立识别区的抗议和反对意见,并同时指称中国的行动威胁使领土争 端升级。

西中外交

《金融时报》同时发表了有关西班牙政府由于该国刑事法庭对中国前领导人签发逮捕通缉令而倍感头痛的报道。
西班牙刑事法庭接受该国某藏人援助会有关江泽民和李鹏在执政期间犯有针对藏人的“侵反人权”的指控案,并最终签发了逮捕令。

由于西班牙政府行政当局无权干涉司法决定,因此此事让马德里大为头痛。

接受采访的马德里官员说,他们担心事件会负面影响西班牙试图吸引中国投资和扩大对华贸易规模的努力。

报道也指出,尽管中国官方事后已经接连向西班牙政府质询,但是从中国官方限制官媒报道此事的迹象看,北京也不希望事件扩大会。

一张图片 习李王活灵活现


 /uploadfile/2013/1125/20131125050629176.jpg
黑狗开车,黄猫搞平衡,老鼠耍杂技

王反腐开道为保江山,习近平集权左右平衡,李克强走经济钢丝好险

伦敦金融城 - 中国的新哈叭狗


伦敦金融城政府(City of London Corporation)星期五(11月22日)举行几个关于中国开放金融市场的会议。

星期五,金融城政府的政策与资源委员会(Policy and Resources Committee)主席按键 包默凯接受BBC时事节目《今日》采访时表示,英中贸易近年不断增加,不仅是伦敦,全英商业对华的生意额也正在上升。 

中国工商银行在11月稍早时在伦敦发行20亿元人民币债券。这是中国最大银行首 次发行离岸债券

中国在英国的投资正在增加。中资公司正参与英国的通讯基础设备建设,并将获准投入英国的核项目,现在英国迎来中国最大银行在伦敦筹资。

一视同仁

BBC节目《今日》的主播问包默凯英国是否曲意逢迎中国的公司以吸引他们在英投资。

包默凯说:“绝对不是。我们也没有特别优待中国的银行;英格兰银行对无论来自那个国家的银行都一视同仁,最近宣布的一些安排并非只为中国而 设。”

“中国的银行受到关注,是因为他们的规模庞大。”

包默凯认为不能说是英国刻意吸引中国来投资,“伦敦和全英国都是开放的,这是我们成功的原因。中国是大国,他们对投资英国感兴趣并不奇 怪。”

英国首相卡梅伦去年5月在唐宁街首相府与达赖喇嘛见面后,英中关系急转直下。财相奥斯本和伦敦市长约翰逊今年10月的访华行程被视为两国关 系解冻的象征,卡梅伦也将在今年底前到访北京。

包默凯更认为人民币业务在伦敦的发展将惠及全英商界与中国的贸易,去年在英国与人民币有关的商业活动比对上一年增加了一倍。
Dr. Who's 50th Birthday Bash


The programme is listed in Guinness World Records as the longest-running science fiction television show in the world and as the "most successful" science fiction series of all time


Doctor Who fans watch 50th anniversary special

 
Watch clips from the show and interviews with the cast during its making

Doctor Who fans have praised the show's 50th anniversary episode as "epic" and "phenomenal".

The Day of the Doctor was broadcast in 94 countries at the same time as it aired on BBC One on Saturday night.

Featuring three Doctors - Matt Smith, David Tennant and John Hurt - it delved deep into the character's psyche over 75 minutes.
There were also cameos from former star Tom Baker, and Peter Capaldi, who replaces Smith later this year.

"It's the most ambitious episode we've ever done," said the show's boss, Steven Moffat, ahead of the premiere.

Opening with the show's original credit sequence from 1963, the special featured the Daleks and the return of shape-shifting aliens the Zygons, who first appeared in 1975.


Doctor Who
          image


But the principal villain was potentially the Doctor himself.
Moffat's story played with the idea, introduced when the science-fiction show re-launched in 2005, that the Doctor was the "last of the Time Lords".

It transpired that Hurt's version of the Doctor had taken the decision to commit mass genocide in order to halt a "Great Time War" - and the 75-minute episode saw him fighting to come to terms with that decision, aided by two future versions of himself.

"The last few minutes affected me quite deeply," wrote Neil Perryman on the Guardian's website.

He conceded that some of the details "didn't make a lot of sense on first viewing" but added: "I don't care - I'll be watching it again this evening".

Speaking immediately after the show ended, star Matt Smith said: "I think what's really clever about it is that what he [Moffat] has managed to do is change the mythology of the character - which, after 50 years, is an achievement."

Aside from the emotional drama, the episode was filled with comedic moments - including a proposal, a marriage and "a machine that goes ding".

John Hurt
        and Billie Piper in a scene from Dr Who, The Day of the Doctor John Hurt and Billie Piper both appear in The Day of the Doctor
 
When Hurt's Doctor met his frenetic, childlike future selves, he asked: "Am I having a mid-life crisis?"

The show was also crammed with special effects, leaping from modern London to the planet of Gallifrey and Elizabethan England.
"I don't think it bears any resemblance to what we were doing," said Carole Ann Ford, who starred in the very first episode 50 years ago.

'Conned'
 
Doctor Who fans give their reactions to the anniversary show
Screened in 3D in more than 1,500 cinemas in 94 countries - from Russia to Ecuador - the episode attracted hundreds of fans in fancy dress, from bow ties to Dalek outfits.

A gala screening at the BFI in London was attended by Smith, Hurt, Moffat and their co-star Jenna Coleman. 

A huge cheer echoed around the cinema as the end credits rolled, while Tom Baker's surprise cameo also received a large round of applause.

The reaction on Twitter was similarly ecstatic.

Karl Purdon wrote: "That was simply phenomenal", while Freema Agyeman, who once played Martha Jones in the series, called it both "epic" and "compelling".

A Zygon The Zygons, not seen since the mid-70s, returned in the anniversary special
 
Moffat said the special episode had been partly conceived as a way to explain the gap in the series' history - from its cancellation in 1989, until the re-launch, under Russell T Davies, in 2005.
"I knew I wanted to make it about the Time War, and I wanted that 16-year gap to mean something," he said.

"There was a whole other Doctor we got conned out of".

'Emotional wallop'
 
Speaking before the broadcast, Moffat - the show's lead writer and executive producer - admitted he was "nervous" about the scale of the special.

"I'm glad we don't do it every time, but it's very exciting to do it once," he told the BBC News website.

He said he hoped fans would be "very happy", adding: "It's got a big emotional wallop at the end".

Moffat described the first ever Doctor Who episode, An Unearthly Child, broadcast on 23 November 1963, as "one of the very best episodes of Doctor Who ever made".

"All the ideas come from there," he said.

John Hurt,
        Matt Smith and David Tennant in a scene from Dr Who, The Day of
        the Doctor John Hurt, Matt Smith and David Tennant all play the Doctor
 
"The music, the name, the Tardis, the police box bigger on the inside... in terms of brand new ideas that's a rollercoaster of 25 minutes."

Moffat, along with Matt Smith and Jenna Colman, attended the official Doctor Who anniversary celebration at London's ExCel on Friday.

The three-day event, which is being attended by 8,000 fans a day, features appearances from Doctor Who stars from all eras of the series.

American Richard LeCour said he made a special trip from his home in California because Doctor Who had been "part of my life for 40 years".

Adam Highway, from Brighton, predicted that Doctor Who still had a long future ahead of it.

"It'll go on as long as it keeps that balance of appealing to people who don't know the history, but respects the history for those who give a damn about it," he said.

"I think Steven Moffat's got it spot on."

The anniversary story was Matt Smith's penultimate outing, before he regenerates at Christmas into a new Doctor, played by Peter Capaldi.

Everyone Is Leaving China 

Hong Kong’s New Migration Wave


Taiwan, of all places, is the beneficiary
Apparently driven by a combination of business opportunity elsewhere, high property prices, political friction and an irritating influx of mainland Chinese, Hong Kong is experiencing its second wave of immigration after the runup to the 1997 handover.
A total of 3,900 emigrants were listed by Hong Kong’s Security Bureau between January and July this year, up 8.3 percent annually. But while the traditional destinations have been Canada, New Zealand and Australia, Taiwan now has become a magnet, at least according to the latest statistics by Taiwan’s National Immigration Agency (NIA). Some 632 applications for residency from Hong Kong residents were filed in September alone, a sixfold-plus increase from a previous monthly average of 100.
“The reason for the rapid growth of immigration is unclear. We distributed the residence permits under due process,” an NIA official told local media.

When Hong Kongers emigrated to Taiwan before the city’s handover from Britain to China in 1997, the Taiwanese tended to regard them as “people fleeing the long arm of the British colonial law” – triad members on the run. And since 1997 the number of immigrants from Hong Kong has been low, although with a mild pickup occurring in the first half of this year, with applications for residency reaching 1,598 through August.

Hong Kong’s per-capita GDP is much higher than Taiwan’s by purchasing power parity, at US$52,300 compared to US$39,300, leading the island’s media to jump to the conclusion the reasons for the exodus were political. “A call by Hong Kong activists to ‘evacuate to Taiwan’ appears to have hit a nerve,” wrote the English-language Taipei Times, referring to a Facebook campaign initiated by Hong Kong youth in response to the move by the CY Leung government to grant television broadcast licenses to tycoon-controlled networks.

However, the continuing political friction, including that between Hong Kong and the mainland, is hardly the story. Instead, a major factor for the Taiwan-bound wave is discernible when looking at regulations promulgated by the NIA and the Investment Commission under the Ministry of Economic Affairs.

Hong Kong residents can become “investment immigrants,” under the strikingly simple regulations. It can be done by buying shares worth NT$5 million (US$169,000) in a given Taiwanese company; establishing a proprietary business or partnership in Taiwan with the same investment amount; or lending the NT$5 million to a Taiwanese business for a year.

If that is still too onerous, there even is an easier and virtually risk-free way. Hong Kongers can simply deposit NT$5 million into a regular Taiwanese bank account and then wait a year before obtaining the right to a residency application.

After holding an Alien Resident Card for five consecutive years, the immigrant can then apply for an Alien Permanent Resident Certificate, effectively meaning life-long right of residency regardless of job or investment. 

Needless to say, the NT$5 million entrance fee wouldn’t get would-be émigrés anywhere if they were up to buy a property in Hong Kong.

“It is so astonishingly simple; if Hong Kongers want to emigrate to Australia, for example, it takes either an investment of A$1.5 million (US$1.4 million) or A$5 million, with the latter one being far easier,” says Paul Bernadou, a Hong Kong migration consultant.
The A$1,5 million would have to be invested in an Australian government bond, and the applicant has to prove that the funds were generated in his or her regular skill set, “which actually is quite difficult to do.” The A$5 million scheme is more straightforward, Bernadou says, as the applicant basically only has to prove that the funds have no criminal source. He or she can then invest in a government bond or managed funds listed on stock exchange or a mixture.

Bernadou points out that he has never once had an enquiry from anyone in Hong Kong about moving to Taiwan. He acknowledges, however, that the ease Hong with which Hong Kong residents can migrate to the island makes it highly unlikely that they would want to pay for migration consultant services in the first place. 

Human resource consultants in Taipei say most of the investment immigrants from Hong Kong head for the hospitality and services industries, which “Hong Kong Chinese are very strong in,” as one of them put it. Since last year, local travel businesses have been complaining that Hong Kong investors are making the most money out of the ongoing mainland tourism bonanza on the island. 

According to a Taiwanese academic in the tourism field who spoke on condition of anonymity, “of the US$60 that mainland tourists on average burn per day during their Taiwan trip, the Taiwanese lose on average a staggering 50% to Hong Kong intermediaries.”
In other service sectors the hard-charging Hong Kong migrants’ resourcefulness obviously pays off in relatively laid-back Taiwan. In what can be taken as the stereotype of a Hong Kong-Taipei rags-to-riches story, migrant Sam Lee at the earliest onset of the K-Pop wave in 2005, without funds worth mentioning opened Korean language school VTK, which with well over 1,000 students is now by far the biggest such school on the island.

While many of Lee’s local competitors failed even though K-Pop and K-TV dramas became mainstream later because they initially rented places that were too big so that they couldn’t be filled with students at once, Lee found an office complex where rooms could be rented one-by-one and that on very short notice according to demand, therefore keeping the initial investment extremely low.
“I could have never pulled that off in Hong Kong,” Lee says. “There the rent is too high and regulatory requirements are too cumbersome.”

He confirms that there is an increased interest in Taiwan among Hong Kongers thinking about migration. In recent months he has received phone calls from Hong Kong friends whose friends want to talk with him “about the Taiwan thing”, Lee says.

中国1000亿元人民币坏账
 


分析师表示,预计中国首家即将上市的坏账管理公司将在未来两年收购至多1000亿元人民币的新的不良贷款,在此期间中国各银行的不良贷款将会 增加近一倍。

中国信达资产管理公司(Cinda)周一开始向机构投资者推销其在香港上市的25亿美元股份。英国《金融时报》获悉的一份非公开的预售文件显 示,通过收购这些坏账,信达的不良贷款账目将增长50%以上。

信达此次IPO向投资者出售的股份约占该公司股份总额的15%。此次上市被作为一种反周期押注向投资者推销,即获益于中国经济放缓、再平衡以 及企业融资成本上升。

根据英国《金融时报》看到的高盛(Goldman)为信达撰写的预售文件,到2015年末,中国各大银行的坏账将从今年底的5930亿元人民 币飙升至逾1万亿元人民币。届时中国的银行坏账率仍然不到2%。

中国工商银行(ICBC)董事长姜建清上周向英国《金融时报》表示,随着中国各银行增加向中小私营企业的放贷,同时减少向国营企业的放贷,不 良贷款将不可避免地增加。

预售文件显示,信达只有不到一半的收入来自坏账重组业务,但该业务贡献了近三分之二的利润。信达其他业务包括投资、资产管理以及其他金融服 务。最新官方数据显示,中国银行业的不良贷款(NPL)二季度增加130亿元人民币(合20亿美元)至5400亿元人民币,连续七个季度走 高。十多年前,中国政府成立四家国资的资产管理公司(AMC),接手四大国有银行的不良贷款。

中国总体杠杆水平已经急剧上升:

  
高盛:中国坏账损失或达19万亿元
影子银行提供的信贷日益增加:
高盛:中国坏账损失或达19万亿元

  影子信贷的扩张意味着融资成本上升,
这导致在经济增长放缓的时候,越来越多的工程项目不可行:

  
高盛:中国坏账损失或达19万亿元
中国国内企业的杠杆也在上升:
中国对影子银行没有正式的定义。但通常的理解就是,在正式银行系统外提供信贷的金融机构。

Sunday, November 24, 2013


成龙落力演出


成龙声称 不识艾未未被讥为政府落力演出

 


“谁是艾未未?”成龙貌似天真的一句回覆,惹火了艾未未,艾未未反讥成龙是个“落力演出的亲政府演员”。根据英国卫报艺坛新闻记者琼斯的博客 文章,事件起因是加拿大安省美术馆最近举行《艾未未:凭什么?》的作品展出,凑巧成龙在今年6月也出席多伦多举办的一场影展。由于艾未未被政 府禁止出席展出活动,加拿大国家广播公司CBC记者在访问成龙,也顺便提到有关艾未未的遭遇,不过成龙却反问记者谁是艾未未?声称他从来不认识艾未未是谁。

以艺术作品挑战权威而闻名国际的艾未未,日前为了宣传在安省的展出接受加拿大电台节目的访问时,艾未未显然没有让成龙得逞的意图。艾未未反唇 相讥说,成龙是故意奚落他这个政府的批评者,而且还反驳成龙不认识他的说法,“他一直都认识我,他是一个落力演出的亲政府演员,他是站在权威 一方而演戏的”。

卫 报琼斯的博文指出,根据成龙过去的言论,艾未未的指控确实是有道理。文章指出,成龙曾公开呼吁香港政府打压游行示威的自由,艾未未鼓吹言论自 由,但成龙有时却反对这些自由。

博文指出,艾未未和成龙或许只是代表了政治立场的两个极端,但成龙一边倒的倒向政府建制的一方,难免让人想到艾未未的立场是何等孤独和勇敢。 艾未未的名气(不与成龙相比)可能让人感觉以为他已经打了胜仗,但事实上,他只是孤身一人抵抗一支强大的敌军。

艾未未中指作品系列之一,铜雕。艾未未的作品继在美国之后这次移 师加拿大展出,他继续以充满强力信息的艺术作品来抗衡对手,琼斯说,成龙应该抽空看一看。

《艾未未:凭什么?》作品展于8月17日在加拿大安省美术馆开幕,其中一个最为感人的项目,就是有300多名志愿者参与的《念出他们的名字》 行为艺术,纪念四川地震中因豆腐渣工程而无辜死难的儿童。志愿者在展览会现场的一整面写满了名字的高墙前,用包括各种方言的中文,一一念出在 2008年四川地震中,由于豆腐渣工程而死难的5100名孩童的名字。