Whereas the United States and Japan have enjoyed a
productive and successful peace for 65 years, which has nurtured a strong and
critical alliance that is vitally important to both countries, the Asia-Pacific
region, and the world;
Whereas the United States-Japan alliance is based on
shared interests and values and the common support for political and economic
freedoms, human rights, and international law;
Whereas the United States-Japan alliance has been
maintained by the contributions and sacrifices of members of the United States
Armed Forces dedicated to Japan’s defense and democracy;
Whereas from December 7, 1941, to August 15, 1945, the
Pacific War caused profound damage and suffering to combatants and
noncombatants alike;
Whereas among those who suffered and sacrificed greatly
were the men and women of the United States Armed Forces who were captured by
Imperial Japanese forces during the Pacific War;
Whereas many United States prisoners of war were subject
to brutal and inhumane conditions and forced labor;
Whereas according to the Congressional Research Service,
an estimated 27,000 United States prisoners of war were held by Imperial
Japanese forces and nearly 40 percent perished:
Whereas the American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor
and its subsequent Descendants Group have worked tirelessly to represent the
thousands of United States veterans who were held by Imperial Japanese forces
as prisoners of war during the Pacific War;
Whereas, on May 30, 2009, an official apology from the
Government of Japan was delivered by Japan’s Ambassador to the United States
Ichiro Fujisaki to the last convention of the American Defenders of Bataan and
Corregidor stating, Today, I would like to convey to you the position of
the government of Japan on this issue. As former Prime Ministers of Japan have
repeatedly stated, the Japanese people should bear in mind that we must look
into the past and to learn from the lessons of history. We extend a heartfelt
apology for our country having caused tremendous damage and suffering to many
people, including prisoners of wars, those who have undergone tragic
experiences in the Bataan Peninsula, Corregidor Island, in the Philippines, and
other places
; and
Whereas in 2010, the Government of Japan through its
Ministry of Foreign Affairs has established a new program of remembrance and
understanding that, for the first time, includes United States former prisoners
of war and their family members or other caregivers by inviting them to Japan
for exchange and friendship: Now, therefore, be it
That the House of
Representatives—
(1)welcomes and commends the Government of
Japan for extending an official apology to all United States former prisoners
of war from the Pacific War and moving forward in planning to invite surviving
members to Japan;
(2)requests that the
Government of Japan not hesitate in promulgating widely their historic apology
and their new program of reconciliation and remembrance and educate the public
about these efforts;
(3)expresses
appreciation that the Government of Japan is moving swiftly in establishing
their program of invitation and is seeking ways to expand the program’s budget
so that more United States former prisoners of war, their spouses, and
descendants can be included and that documentation of their experience can be
conducted;
(4)requests that the Government of Japan
respect the wishes and sensibilities of the United States prisoners of war by
providing an appropriate program for lasting remembrance and reconciliation
that recognizes their sacrifices and forced labor;
(5)acknowledges the
work of the United States Department of State in advocating for the United
States prisoners of war from the Pacific War; and
(6)applauds the
persistence, dedication, and patriotism of the members and descendants of the
American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor for their pursuit of justice and
lasting peace.