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)
