A resolution pending in the U.S. Congress to seek Japan's apology for forcing foreign women into sexual servitude for its military during the war is not intended to embarrass Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the head of a House Foreign Affairs Committee panel considering the motion said Tuesday.
Eni Faleomavaega, a Democrat from American Samoa, made the comment in an interview with Kyodo News, referring to Abe's planned visit to the United States around April 26. He said no schedule has been worked out for the committee or the full House to take a vote on the resolution.
"It's . . . my understanding that Prime Minister Abe is going to be visiting Washington next month some time. I'm not one to put something out that would cause embarrassment to the prime minister," Faleomavaega said, alluding to the possibility of delaying a vote until after Abe's U.S. visit.
Speculation was rife that the committee would take a vote as early as this month on the resolution about what Japan euphemistically called the "comfort women."
Faleomavaega said it is "ridiculous" that Abe remarked earlier this month that there is no proof that the Japanese military coerced foreign women into sexual slavery during the war.
But he also welcomed Abe's reiteration later that he will stand by a 1993 government statement that acknowledged and apologized for the Japanese military's involvement in coercing the women into sexual slavery.
