The Hindu : International : China refuses to apologise

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Apr 18, 2005

International

International

China refuses to apologise

P. S. Suryanarayana

SINGAPORE: The Foreign Ministers of China and Japan began a crisis-time meeting in Beijing on Sunday, amid unabated rallies in several Chinese cities against a Japanese history textbook and Tokyo's bid to become a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.

The talks were understood to have begun on a note of sharp differences, with the Japanese Foreign Minister, Nobutaka Machimura, describing the rallies as a "very regrettable situation" and his Chinese counterpart, Li Zhaoxing, responding that Beijing "has never done anything" to be apologetic about.

According to a Japanese version of the remarks in the presence of journalists, Mr. Machimura told Mr. Li that "we should be deeply concerned about" the situation. Referring to the vandalism and "violence towards Japanese people" over three consecutive weekends, Mr. Machimura hoped that China would address this situation "in a sincere and swift manner in accordance with international law."

Mr. Li was quoted as replying "the important thing at the moment is that the Japanese Government is taking actions that hurt the feelings of the Chinese people." With Mr. Machimura expected to stay overnight in Beijing on Sunday, there was no immediate official comment by either side on the status and scope of the parleys amid rallies also in Hong Kong.

Earlier in Tokyo, Mr. Machimura said he would raise the question of a Chinese apology and "compensation" for the damage caused to Japanese interests in China.

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