UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called on Japan to look back on its history to help resolve historical disputes with neighbouring countries.
His comments come in response to Japan potentially boosting its military. The head of a Japanese constitutional watchdog recently suggested that it would not block a bid by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to ease constraints on the country’s military. Abe wants to lift Japan’s self-imposed ban on exercising the right of collective self-defense, or coming to the aid of an ally under attack.
"I think Japanese political leaders need to examine themselves in depth and have a vision to foresee the international future in assessing how they should form their awareness of history and how the correct perception of history could help facilitate friendly relationships with neighbours." said Ban Ki-Moon.