IN A RECENT INTERVIEW with The Washington Times, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe spoke vaguely about the "comfort women" who were forced to be sex slaves by the occupying Japanese Imperial Army during World War II, calling the issue "human trafficking" without mentioning who was responsible. Comments:

Abe is due to visit the United States and deliver a speech in Congress, which will be the first time for a Japanese prime minister. If he continues to be vague on historical issues, that will not only harm Japan's relations with China and the Republic of Korea, but also its alliance with the US. Abe needs to be careful not to drive the ship of Japan into a dead end.

cnhubei.com, March 29