The Hindu : International : Take correct view of invasion, Japan told

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 19, 2005

International

International

Take correct view of invasion, Japan told

P. S. Suryanarayana

Beijing, Tokyo face "most serious crisis in three decades"

SINGAPORE: As the political equation between China and Japan hit a new low since the normalisation of their relations in 1972, the Chinese Foreign Minister, Li Zhaoxing, told his Japanese counterpart, Nobutaka Machimura, that a "precondition for improving" ties would be a "correct view" by Tokyo of the Japanese "history of invasion."

The pointed reference to the Second World War came during the crisis-time parleys in Beijing on Sunday night between the two leaders over the downturn in ties. The tensions follow the usage of a textbook in some Japanese schools which Beijing feels "whitewashes" the history of invasion. As the talks ended without any specific agreement on any of the points in dispute, the Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister, Wu Dawei, said on Monday the two countries were now facing "the most serious difficulties" in over three decades.

Taiwan issue

Mr. Li called for concrete action by Tokyo in pursuance of its "pledges" to view its recent history in the light of the sentiments of the countries that suffered at the hands of Japan before and during the War.

It was against this demand that Mr. Li declined to offer an apology as demanded by Tokyo for the anti-Japan protests in China for three consecutive week-ends.

During the talks on the other issues such as Japan's test-drilling move for oil and natural gas in the disputed waters of East China Sea or Tokyo's credentials for a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council, Mr. Li placed the Taiwan issue at the heart of the latest row.

Hinting that Beijing was not amused over Japan's recent strategic accord with the U.S. to cooperate in addressing the Taiwan issue to ensure Asia-Pacific security, Mr. Li asked Mr. Machimura to ensure Japan's compliance with its pledges of adherence to One-China policy. Mr. Li said Beijing strongly requested Tokyo "not to do anything detrimental to China's sovereignty" over Taiwan.

Mr. Machimura later told journalists that "China's top leaders seem not to understand the huge shock that the Japanese public has felt over this issue" of the protests.

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