Japan's new Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka stressed Monday that the
Japanese government will seriously take the Chinese side's stance
on the issue of the history textbook, and will continue to adhere
to the One-China principle, not supporting Taiwan's
"independence".
Tanaka made the remarks in a phone conversation with Chinese
Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan.
She said that the Japanese-Chinese relation is among the important
bilateral relations of Japan, and the Japan-China Joint Statement,
which was signed by her father, Kakuei Tanaka, and Chinese leaders,
has moralized diplomatic ties and laid a foundation for the
relations between the two countries.
Both the new Japanese government and Tanaka herself value the
relations between the two countries, and would like to make
unremitting efforts for the stable development of Japanese-Chinese
relations, she added.
On
the history issue, Tanaka said that Japan has made solemn
statements in this regard in the Japan-China Joint Statement and in
the talks made by former Japanese Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama
on behalf of the Japanese government in 1995, adding that Japan
will abide by the statements.
Tanaka noted that young people should learn from the disastrous
history in the past, and the recent issue of the history textbook
has harmed the Japanese-Chinese relations, for which she feels
regret.
The Japanese side will seriously treat the Chinese side's stance
and demands, taking corresponding measures to properly handle the
issue, she added.
On
the Taiwan issue, Tanaka said that the Japanese government will
adhere to the One-China stance, not participate in any activity
supporting "two Chinas", or "one China, one Taiwan", and will not
support Taiwan's "independence".
On
the issue of Lee Teng-hui's visit to Japan, she said, Japan will
deal with it seriously according to the above-mentioned
principles.
Tang Jiaxuan said that the Chinese government and people value and
are ready to develop the long-term and good-neighborly relations
with Japan, but the current issues of the history textbook and Lee
Teng-hui's Japan tour have harmed the Sino- Japanese relations.
He
pointed out that the essence of the history textbook issue is
whether Japan can have a correct understanding of and deal with its
invasion in the history. He voiced the hope that Japan would take
practical measures to seriously treat China's demands so as to earn
the trust of the Asian people, and stick to peace and development
on the basis of learning from the history.
Tang noted that the Taiwan issue has relation to the political
foundation of the Sino-Japanese relations, and he urged Japan to
honor its commitments and do something to safeguard the relations
between the two countries.
(Xinhua 05/08/2001)