A tentative possibility has emerged for a China-Japan summit
after Shinzo Abe's expected election as Japanese prime minister
later this month. However, a pre-condition remains his handling of
the Yasukuni Shrine issue said Feng Zhaokui, a researcher of the
Institute of Japan Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social
Sciences.
"We hope Abe's statements of emphasizing relations with China
can be realized," Feng said in an interview.
Japanese media reported last week that senior diplomats from
both countries may hold talks in Tokyo next week, paving the way
for a meeting between President Hu Jintao and Abe after he becomes Japan's
prime minister, aimed at thawing frosty relations between the two
Asian powers.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said on Saturday China had
always attached great importance to developing friendly relations
with Japan, but did not confirm the meeting.
Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's obstinate
persistence in visiting the Yasukuni Shrine is the roadblock for
Sino-Japanese relations, as well as for normal exchanges between
the leaders of the two countries, Qin said.
"The key to solving the present difficulties is for the Japanese
leader to make an early resolution on thoroughly clearing up the
political barrier of the shrine visits and bringing bilateral
relations back to a normal development track," he added.
China has refused to hold meetings with outgoing PM Koizumi
because of his repeated visits to the shrine, seen by China and
other Asian countries as glorifying Japan's past militarism.
Abe, the current chief cabinet secretary of Japan, on September
1 formally declared his candidacy for the ruling Liberal Democratic
Party (LDP) election.
He is almost certain to replace Koizumi as head of the ruling
party and hence become prime minister due to the LDP's grip on
parliament.
Abe is known for his hawkish political position, including his
embracing of the idea of the shrine visits. He has defended
Koizumi's Yasukuni visits but has declined to say whether he would
follow suit.
While Abe tries to take an ambiguous attitude towards the shrine
visit, "China's stance is clear and firm", Qin emphasized in the
statement.
Japanese media have said Abe was eyeing a visit to Beijing as
early as October, rather than waiting to meet Hu on the sidelines
of an Asian Pacific leaders' gathering in Hanoi in November.
Such a meeting, although symbolic, would represent a chance to
begin resolving Sino-Japanese disputes, such as the development of
gas fields in the disputed East China Sea, added Feng.
"If the summit were to materialize, strategic dialogue between
the two governments could be held to solve other problems," he
said.
It's time that the stalemate of the soured political relations
between China and Japan is broken, as its continuation will damage
the interests of both sides.
According to Feng, Abe is less "strange" than Koizumi in his
politics, and he expects more flexibility and the adoption of a
strategic perspective in dealing with China-Japan relations.
(China Daily September 18, 2006)
?