China and Japan held the fourth round of vice-ministerial level strategic talks in Tokyo Friday, which Japan calls "talks on comprehensive policy".

It is more necessary for the two countries to keep the talks under halted top-level exchanges between them. The talks can help both sides express their respective stands and concerns, exchange ideas on international and regional issues, as well as improve mutual understanding.

Accordingly, it is very important for the two sides to maintain and improve the dialogue mechanism.

Nevertheless, currently, it is very difficult for the major thorny issues between China and Japan to be solved.

This is because the present Japanese policy-making is a one-voice hall of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. On the issue of his shrine visit, he is doesn't listen to anyone one of his fellows, let alone advice from neighboring countries.

Recently Koizumi again argued that other nations should not voice opinion on a prime minister's visit to a national "facility", and no leaders of any other country have raised demand except China and the Republic of Korea (ROK). These remarks suggest that Koizumi would go on with the visit this year.

However, his visit will be more widely condemned accusations both at home and in the international community. That's what makes the sadness for Japanese hawkish politicians, which nothing can stop.

Since the beginning of this year, the new features for Japanese political "right turn" are: Rightwing words become "official".

The typical examples are as follows: After appointed as foreign minister, Taro Aso made queer remarks for three consecutive times. In short, the first is "China threat theory", the second "Japanese emperor should visit the Yasukuni Shrine", and the third, "Japan should be credited for Taiwan's education. The foreign minister even called Taiwan as a "country" overtly. These right-wing remarks being made by no one but Japanese foreign minister certainly aroused the indignation of the Chinese people and quite a number of Japanese calling it bad.

Not long ago, the Japanese government mentioned in the Diet "Japan and China agreed to establish lasting and peaceful friendly relations in the 1972 joint communique" and said "Japan does not think that "China has "intention" to invade Japan."

This might be a certain kind of correction for Aso's "China threat theory". However, just before Sino-Japanese strategic talks, the foreign minister again peddled words in overt violation of the "Sino-Japanese joint communique", again making troubles for Sino-Japanese relations.

That Aso feared nothing might be the backing from Koizumi. When appointing Aso as foreign minister, Koizumi encouraged that the hawkish might do a better job in diplomacy.

After assuming post, he made wild remarks. In his view, the post of foreign minister is far away from his political dream, which will come true only when he becomes the president of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) first, and then the Japanese prime minister.

It's pity that Aso's general support is far lower than that of Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe. For a win in the LDP election in September this year, it seems that it's the only way out for him to obtain the support of Koizumi and the insular nationalism at home. For this, he does not hesitate to show he is more a right-wing and harder in foreign policy.

Despite anti-China forces in Japan, what grows on the rise is the public opinion that hopes the government pay attention to its Asian diplomacy and improve its relations with China and the ROK.

The United States and Southeast Asian nations are also worried about the continued deterioration of Japanese relations with China and the ROK. Aso is in dilemma: It is hard for him to win the presidency of the LDP if he does not follow Koizumi. But, as foreign minister, he has made himself a troublemaker in Japan's relations with its neighbors, which is obviously unfavorable to his prime minister campaign.

If failing to balance, Aso will meet a setback. That is the sadness for Japanese hawks.

This comment by Liu Jiangyong, professor and deputy head of the Institute of International Studies, Tsinghua University, is carried on the front page of People's Daily Overseas Edition, Feb. 10 and is translated by People's Daily Online