In the Nov. 12 Kyodo article "Taipei demands redress, apology for sex slaves," we read that "In a rare show of unity, the island's ruling and opposition parties passed by a unanimous vote the Taiwan Comfort Women Resolution, calling on Tokyo to 'accept historical responsibility for its World War II sex slavery institution, and apologize to and compensate surviving victims.' " The United States and European Union passed similar resolutions last year. The fact that Japan must be reminded of its obligations in this way suggests that Gen. Toshio Tamogami wasn't fired from his post as the Air Self-Defense Force chief because his views differed from the government's, but because he caused problems by airing them. But he is 60 and could retire with a ¥60 million allowance.
In his Nov. 9 letter, "Shadow support for general's views," Andre Colomas claims that Tamogami would never have become ASDF chief without political support from people in the government. I agree. Anyone can see that Tamogami is fully in line with the government's views. Remember former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's visits to Yasukuni Shrine, or former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's comments on sex slaves, or the textbook revisions, etc.
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