安倍对日本战时行为表示懊悔但未道歉

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expressed "deep remorse" for Japan\'s wartime past in a speech Wednesday, but failed to repeat previous official apologies to the victims of Japan\'s colonial aggression.

Prime Minister Abe also took a veiled swipe at China during his closely watched speech at the Asia-Africa summit in Indonesia, which many hoped would serve as an opportunity for Tokyo and Beijing to mend damaged ties.

In the lead-up to the event, the conservative Japanese leader had told local media outlets there was no need for him to reiterate the same landmark apologies made by his predecessors in 1995 and 2005.

His Jakarta speech made only passing reference to Japan\'s past militarism, noting Tokyo had "feelings of deep remorse over the past war" but insisting its leaders had long ago committed to the principles of peace.

Mr. Abe also said the international community should "never allow to go unchecked the use of force by the mightier to twist the weaker around." This was an apparent reference to China, which has been accused of bullying its neighbors and is involved in a worsening dispute with Tokyo over a group of strategic islands in the East China Sea.

Earlier, Prime Minister Abe and Chinese President Xi Jinping exchanged greetings and politely shook hands at a photo session to kick off the conference. Japanese officials say they expect the two leaders to hold a more formal meeting later Wednesday.

安倍在印度尼西亚召开的亚非峰会上发表演讲时，以隐晦的方式指责了中国。很多人希望峰会给东京和北京修复关系带来机会。

在亚非峰会召开之前，这位持保守立场的日本首相对当地媒体说，他没有必要重复其前任在1995年和2005年做出的里程碑式道歉。

安倍在雅加达发表演讲时，只是顺带提到日本的军国主义历史，表示东京对其战时行为深感懊悔，但坚称日本领导人长期以来一直奉行和平原则。

安倍还说，国际社会绝不能听任强者使用武力欺负弱者。安倍看来是在暗指中国。中国被指责欺负其邻国，而中国与日本在东中国海的领土争端日趋激化。

在亚非峰会开幕之前拍摄大合照时，安倍与中国国家主席习近平互致问候，并礼貌地握手。日本官员说，预计安倍与习近平星期三晚些时候将举行一次较为正式的会晤。