Strained Sino-Japan relations have caused Yuji Miyamoto's new assignment to be splashed across newspaper headlines.

Miyamoto, 59, a former Japanese ambassador to Myanmar, will begin his posting in Beijing on Monday. He will succeed Koreshige Anami, who has served as ambassador to China for five years.

The recent attention over Miyamoto's new mission is not surprising since the political dimension of the bilateral relations can hardly move forward.

Ambassadors are the individuals who are assigned to adopt specific parts of a country's foreign policy.

Theoretically, the success of their role depends on the extent to which their country's foreign policy is workable.

A grand reception was thrown in Japan to both the departing and incoming ambassadors, pinning hopes on the new one. Among the guests were members of the seven Japan-China friendship groups - former Japanese Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto included - that visited Beijing a week ago.

Miyamoto claimed at the reception that the two countries have no choice but to maintain a stable and friendly bilateral relationship.

While Japanese leaders in power are insistent on a harsh policy toward China, what Miyamoto can do is in dispute.

When receiving the seven groups from Japan, President Hu Jintao elucidated what the hardest issue to overcome is not China; it is Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's visit to the war-related Yasukuni Shrine honouring 14 Class-A war criminals.

The leader of Japan, which invaded and occupied China before and during World War II, fails to show due respect to the feelings of its Asian neighbour. Hu sent a clear conciliatory message to Koizumi, or his successor: He will hold a summit with the Japanese leader only if he stops paying homage to the Yasukuni Shrine.

This is a matter that the Japanese leader, be Koizumi or his successor, cannot evade.

Hu also remarked that China adopts a friendly policy in regards to its relations with Japan.

The prerequisite is to remove the political hedge that has soured the bilateral relations.

The incoming Japanese ambassador was described by Japanese Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe as a "gutsy" career diplomat and a China specialist.

But can he make unexpected change for the bilateral relations?

The road before Miyamoto was tough, as Japanese leaders, Koizumi and Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso included, remain insensitive on the Yasukuni issue.

(China Daily April 10, 2006)