WASHINGTON — The U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee overwhelmingly passed a resolution Tuesday demanding an apology from Japan over the sexual exploitation of women in the Asia-Pacific region by the military during the war.
The nonbinding resolution was approved 39-2. It was submitted by Rep. Michael Honda, a California Democrat of Japanese descent, and some Republicans.
"What they said today in their vote was that yes, there were victims, there were women who were used as sex slaves. Yes, there was a systematic military program that captured, coerced women and girls to be used as sex slaves," Honda told reporters after the resolution was passed.