We are here to have serious discussions about China-Japan
relations and to try to come up with a prescription that will allow
Sino-Japanese relations to change from their current course and go
the way of friendship.
To begin with, let us consider the basic principles governing
Chinese-Japanese relations. These principles, laid down in the
China-Japan Joint Statement (1972), the China-Japan Treaty of Peace
and Friendship (1978) and the China-Japan Joint Declaration (1998),
were not put forward unilaterally and did not arise from one
party's own perspectives. These principles epitomize the efforts
made by Chinese and Japanese leaders to safeguard the mutual
interests of both countries as well as the interests of their own
nations.
Deng Xiaoping, the chief architect of China's reform and opening
up, had great expectations for Sino-Japanese ties in the 21st
century. Unfortunately, the relations have, somehow, plunged to
their lowest point since the Sino-Japanese rapprochement of
1972.
The Japanese economy that began to slow in 2002 has now showed
signs of recovery. Many people, therefore, remark that Japan's
economy is emerging from the "lost decade." Similarly, we may ask
the question: Will Chinese-Japanese relations be able to step out
from the shadow of "the past five years of retrogression?"
In the face of seemingly insurmountable political stumbling
blocks, we should not sit waiting for things to make a turn for the
better, because we are not mere onlookers.
The Chinese Government has always been committed to
strengthening Sino-Japanese ties, never giving up even during tough
times.
In April 2005, demonstrations targeting Japan took place in a
number of Chinese cities. The Chinese Government encouraged the
Chinese media to guide public opinion along the right channels.
Moreover, a number of important people who had influence on
Sino-Japanese ties, among them the Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing, rushed to major Chinese cities to
deliver speeches. These speakers all emphasized that China-Japan
relations involve the interests of both countries and, more
generally, harmony in Asia. They urged people to improve their
understanding of the history of China-Japan exchanges and to form a
complete picture of Japanese people's attitude towards China.
China and Japan are neighbors, in the past, at present, in the
future and forever. Properly handling neighborly relations is bound
to be a vitally important aspect of each country's national policy.
The relations between China, the world's largest developing
country, and Japan, the world's second strongest economic power, is
of paramount importance to the immediate and long-term interests of
both nations and to the future of Asia. Doubtless, this is the
consensus reached by both parties.
Some describe Sino-Japanese ties as "icy politically but hot
economically." Some believe that "icy political ties" are bound to
seriously affect the "hot economic relations." Others think that
political and economic affairs can be dealt with separately. I have
always believed that a cold political climate prevents economic
co-operation from reaching the heights it is capable of reaching.
Economic progress in both China and Japan could have reached an
amazingly high level but for the "political iciness." The same can
be said of the contributions made by the two countries to the Asian
economy as a whole.
It is vitally important that we look to the two countries'
historical ties and cultural exchanges to discover ways in which we
can improve current China-Japan relations.
Despite the twists and turns of the 19th and 20th centuries,
China and Japan have enjoyed extensive and intensive cultural
exchanges for more than 1,000 years.
Master Jianzhen (Ganjin), a Chinese Buddhist monk of the Tang
Dynasty (AD 618-907) who introduced the Ritsu school of Buddhism to
Japan, remarked on the eve of his voyage to Japan that the country
was a land predestined for Buddhism. The word "predestination" has
profound connotations, relating to geographic closeness as well as
cultural and religious exchanges, that go beyond the introduction
of Buddhism.
These "predestined" exchanges have lasted for centuries and are
expected to flourish in the future.
As is commonly known, ancient Chinese culture had a far-reaching
influence on Japan. In the more recent past, however, China has
learnt a lot from Japan. Chinese thinkers, academicians and
literary masters in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, such as
Zhang Taiyan, Wang Guowei, Liang Qichao and Lu Xun, translated the
works of Japanese thinkers like Fukuzawa Ykichi, Kato Hiroyuki,
Nakae Chomin and Kotoku Shusui into Chinese. Modern literature,
poetry and drama in early 20th century China were much influenced
by Japanese texts. It is estimated that China borrowed more than
1,000 important terms from Japan in the late 19th and early 20th
centuries, covering natural science, social sciences and liberal
arts studies.
Today, the number of Chinese students majoring in the Japanese
language keeps rising. And more and more Chinese and Japanese
students are studying in each other's country. Statistics show that
the number of Chinese students in Japan reached 80,000 last year,
accounting for two-thirds of the foreign students there.
"Warm currents" of cultural exchanges have continued to flow
between the two countries in recent years, in spite of the freezing
political climate.
This kind of public diplomacy should be promoted so that
exchanges are conducted in multiple fields, thus facilitating the
improvement of general Sino-Japanese ties.
Public diplomacy refers to exchanges carried out by
organizations and people other than foreign ministries and leaders.
Universities, companies, research institutions, media, cultural
circles and important private citizens can all play a part.
Public diplomacy is primarily meant for promoting mutual
understanding between the Chinese and Japanese public through
multiple channels. This, in turn, will help build up a broad
public-opinion basis facilitating the progress of political and
economic ties between the two nations.
Because public diplomacy takes various forms, it works in a more
natural way.
Seven Japan-China friendship organizations, led by the late
former Japanese prime minister Hashimoto Ryutaro, visited China in
March this year. Media regarded the visit as a weather vane
pointing to the direction that future Japanese-Chinese relations
will take. This is a good example of public diplomacy.
"Media diplomacy" and "youth diplomacy" should be particularly
encouraged.
Chinese and Japanese media approach things from different
perspectives and have different ways of reporting. This is only
natural. But irresponsible reporting only deepens misunderstanding
and can make things go from bad to worse. This must be avoided at
all cost.
It is advisable for the media to use history as a mirror,
refrain from going to extremes, look at the other side objectively
and treat one another in a friendly manner. On this basis, the
media can expect to do their job well, facilitating the two-way
flow of information about politics, economics, society and
culture.
The 21st Century Committee of Japan-China Friendship proposed
two years ago that young people from both countries be offered more
opportunities of getting in touch with each other. As a result,
this year has seen more than 1,000 Chinese and Japanese high school
students visiting each other's country. I appreciate this very
much. If the plan goes well, thousands of Chinese and Japanese
students, and in turn their parents, teachers, schoolmates and
neighbors, will be able to have a better understanding of the real
China and Japan.
We will have four grand opportunities for the youth to have
mutual visits in the upcoming four years: the 35th anniversary of
the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Japan
in 2007, the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008, the 30th anniversary of
the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship and the Shanghai
World Expo in 2010. All these public diplomacy opportunities should
be treasured.
A wall seems to stand between China and Japan at the present
stage. This is a wall of differing understandings of history. This
is also a wall of psychology. In the course of the progress of
human civilization, it is the "wall" in people's hearts that is
most worrying. I hope that both parties find a way to smash the
hopefully fragile wall that exists in the hearts of parts of the
Chinese and Japanese public. This will be the foundation by which
the two nations can walk into the future hand in hand.
The author is vice-director of the Foreign Affairs Committee
of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.
(China Daily August 7, 2006)
