Foreign Minister Taro Aso expressed displeasure Monday over a U.S. House of Representatives resolution condemning Japan for acts of sexual exploitation during World War II, saying he finds it groundless.
"It is extremely regrettable and definitely not based on facts," Aso told a Lower House Budget Committee session.
The bipartisan resolution is aimed at censuring Japan for forcing women of other parts of Asia to provide sex for the Japanese military and calls on Tokyo to "formally acknowledge, apologize and accept historical responsibility in a clear and unequivocal manner" for the exploitation.
A group of bipartisan lawmakers, including Democratic Rep. Mike Honda and some powerful Republicans, submitted the resolution Jan. 31, urging Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to offer an official apology.
With developments, such as a hearing on the matter Thursday, working in favor of the resolution's passage in Congress, Aso said, "The draft resolution has absolutely no binding force."
A hearing was held Thursday in a House foreign relations subcommittee with victims of Japanese sexual exploitation testifying.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki said the government maintains its basic position honoring a 1993 statement issued by then Chief Cabinet Secretary Yohei Kono.
The statement officially acknowledged that the Imperial Japanese Army forced Asian women into sexual servitude for its soldiers. Some Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers have launched a campaign to have that position changed.