Yohei Kono Dies; Beijing Expresses Emotion

(Central News Agency, Taipei, June 12) Yohei Kono, former president of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, died of pancreatic cancer on the 8th. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian, when responding to a query on the 11th, departed from his usual concise style and took nearly two minutes to answer. He reviewed Kono's life, praising him for "issuing the Kono Statement, adhering to a correct view of history, upholding the pacifist constitution, and long-term dedication to Japan-China friendly exchanges."

In 1993, then-Chief Cabinet Secretary Kono issued the famous "Kono Statement," expressing the Japanese government's apology and remorse over the comfort women issue. In the statement, Kono acknowledged the involvement of the former Japanese military in the establishment and management of the comfort women system and expressed apologies and remorse to the victimized women. This statement became an important official position of the Japanese government on the comfort women issue and profoundly influenced Japan-South Korea and East Asian diplomatic relations for decades to come.

Regarding the "historical issues" in Japan-China relations, Beijing places the greatest importance on the "Murayama Statement" and the "Kono Statement." In October 2025, former Japanese Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama had already passed away. China's "Direct News" lamented that with the successive deaths of the representative figures of the "Murayama Statement" and the "Kono Statement," what remains of these historical statements that have influenced East Asia for decades?

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian quoted Kono's words: "Past history should not be forgotten, the sentiments of that time should be passed on, and the commitments made should be upheld." Lin emphasized: "Under the current circumstances, these words have even greater practical significance."

On June 11, Zhao Leji, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China, sent a condolence message to Kono's bereaved family, expressing condolences for Kono's passing. (Editor: Zhu Jianling / Chen Kaiyu) 1150612