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Better Sino-Japanese ties in Taiwan's interest

Following the recent spate of anti-Japanese demonstrations in China targeting Japanese firms and representative offices in various cities, Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing (李肇星) not only refused to offer any apology or compensation, but said that Japan had provoked the situation by hurting China's feelings through revisions of textbooks and its stance on Taiwan.

In a meeting between Li and Japanese Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura on April 17 in Beijing, relations were so strained that the two men refused to shake hands. Japan's invitation to Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (溫家寶) to visit the 2005 World Exposition in Aichi Prefecture, meanwhile, met with a curt refusal. All of this has created considerable dissatisfaction among the Japanese.

But the Japanese government is taking a low-key approach to resolving these tensions. In the Asian and African leaders' summit on April 23 in Jakarta, Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi unexpectedly made a public apology for Japan's colonial expansion and the suffering it caused to countries in Asia. The apology is significant, as it comes at a time when Japan is faced with conflicts with China and South Korea over historical wrongs. Koizumi's move was apparently driven by the heightened tension in Sino-Japanese relations, but such a move will put the government under significant pressure from the public.

Japan is well aware that international peace is a prerequisite for continued economic development. During his speech at the Asian and African leaders' summit, Koizumi also gave assurances that Japan had no intention of becoming a militaristic nation, and that it was committed to finding peaceful solutions to problems. He also brought up the issues of substantial aid for economic development and international cooperation to make clear to the international community that Japan was going to continue along its path of peaceful economic development.

At the same time, the Japanese government accepted the Chinese suggestion that the two nations discuss the joint development of natural energy resources in the East China Sea. Further, not one member of Koizumi's Cabinet was among the group of Japanese lawmakers -- of all party affiliations -- who attended the recent spring visit to the Yasukuni Shrine.

Japan is clearly trying to heal the diplomatic rift between the two nations to secure China's support for its bid for permanent membership of the UN Security Council.

After a bit of posturing on the part of China, Chinese President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤) finally agreed to a meeting with Koizumi in Jakarta. Speaking on trade relations between China and Japan, Chinese Commerce Minister Bo Xilai (薄熙來) pointed out that Japanese businesses in China were making a significant contribution to jobs, tax revenue and economic development. Bo expressed the hope that the protests would have no adverse effect on trade relations between the two countries, and that Chinese consumers would not boycott Japanese products.

On top of this, Chinese officials expressed concern that the anti-Japanese sentiment could spin out of control, especially during the long weekend at the beginning of this month, coupled with the anniversary of the May 4th Movement. China is worried that the recent wave of anti-Japanese feeling will pose a threat to social stability and influence trade relations with Japan, and so the leadership is attempting to defuse the situation.

Hu has said he wants stable conditions for reform, the maintenance of social stability, peaceful development and diplomatic relations, and the creation of a favorable international environment.

In an attempt to deal with the Chinese netizens who have organized the protests over the Internet, a police spokesman announced in the sternest terms that any rallies that have not applied for and received permission, or any events organized through the Internet or text messages, will be illegal. Anyone posting comments on the Internet will be taken to court, and a number of well-known patriotic, anti-Japanese Web sites have been shut down. Clearly, Chinese officials are anxious to ensure that the situation doesn't get out of hand.

In the past, as a result of a cold-war mentality, Taiwan has been happy to see confrontations arise between China and the US or other nations, hoping that such events could be exploited. However, if we wish to see a peaceful solution to the Taiwan question, we must hope that this Northeast Asian conflagration will not continue.

The international community must oppose the use of military force in solving disputes to ensure world peace and prosperity. This is the best way to make ourselves heard on the international stage.

Li Ming-juinn is an assistant research fellow at the Institute of International Relations at National Chengchi University.

TRANSLATED BY LIN YA-TI AND PAUL COOPER
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