Japan's foreign minister is trying to distance his government from recent right-wing comments on World War II, calling them "regrettable" and saying they don't represent the government's views.
New officials at public broadcaster NHK drew criticism recently when one denied the Nanjing massacre happened and another downplayed the use of so-called "comfort women" as sex slaves in World War II.
The statements drew angry responses from China and South Korea and have been seen by many as evidence that the government is shifting to the right.
Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said there have been no changes whatsoever to Japan's foreign policy and historical views.
"It is very regrettable if these remarks have caused misunderstanding about the Japanese government's position," he said.
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The Japanese government apologised to the former comfort women in 1993 and more generally for its "colonial rule and aggression" on the 50th anniversary of the end of the World War II in 1995.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has said repeatedly that he stands by those statements, but he has also raised questions in the past about the portrayal of Japan's role in the war.
The comments by the NHK officials are among a series of developments in recent weeks that suggest his government may be pushing a conservative, revisionist agenda.
China and South Korea have fanned those fears, raising concern in Washington that their history disputes with Japan are further inflaming tensions in the region over territorial disputes and other issues.
