China-Japan relations politically chilly and economically hot

On July 20, the Japanese Asahi carried an editorial titled "Koizumi Diplomacy Has Forgot China?" which expresses concerns over the stagnant situation in the China-Japan political relations and hopes that PM Koizumi could make an active gesture to promote the development of the Sino-Japanese political relations.

The editorial says PM Koizumi would pay a visit to the ROK on July 21 and would have a meeting with President Roh Moo Hyun. The relationship between Japan and the ROK is deepening continuously whilst the Sino-Japanese relationship is really worrisome. Without China's participation Asia cannot positively have vitality either in terms of politics or economics. The state leader visit exchange between Japan and China came to a halt after Chinese President Jiang Zemin's visit to Japan in 1998 and Japanese Prime Minster Koizumi's visit to China in 2001.

The editorial emphasizes that in contrast to the chilly diplomatic relations the Japan-China economic ties are expanding continuously. The phrase "chilly politics and hot economics" has become a general summary of current Japan-China relations. However, the rapid economic development by no means indicates that the state leader exchange is of no significance. The reason of the "chilly politics" is due to Koizumi's visits to the Yasukuni Shrine. Every time he pays a visit to the shrine, Koizumi says he "will get the understanding sooner or later". But there is no indication of change being made in the ties between Japan and China with the elapse of such a long time. And there is no sign at all that the Prime Minister has made any effort for improving the situation. Many problems might have been solved had the state leader dialogue existed. For example, in the development of an oil field in the East China Sea, the two countries could have realized joint development through state leader dialogue rather than wrangling over it. Japan could have offered necessary technological assistance in China's efforts to solve environmental problems and its development of alternative energy that have emerged with its rapid economic growth. As for whether a new trunk line should be introduced into the rapid transit railway system between Beijing and Shanghai, headway could have been made too. Besides, the joint efforts by Japan, China and the ROK may make progress in matters concerning the DPRK and speed up the solving of the nuclear problem as well as the problem of abducted Japanese.

The editorial also said the "chilly politics" between Japan and China has not only had an adverse effect on the ties between the two countries but also made the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) question Japan's ability as a regional leader, "which is unable to hold a political dialogue with China".

The editorial points out in the end that Japan's successive prime ministers in the past have tried to maintain good relations with China. It was Prime Minister Toshiki Kaifu who paid the first visit to China among leaders of Western developed countries after 1989. It was Japan, which has first supported China's entry into the World Trade Organization. It is hoped that PM Koizumi could, in a broad perspective of Japan's diplomatic policy toward Asia, directly promote the Japan-China relations.

By People's Daily Online