China-Japan tiff overshadows ASEAN summit

Japan's minister said yesterday that he is baffled by the Chinese premier's refusal to meet one-on-one, fueling a row dating back to World War II and clouding a summit with grand visions for a pan-Asian community.

South Korea and Southeast Asian nations inked an accord during meetings yesterday to set up a free trade area, while the Philippines invited Russia and China to join a Southeast Asian anti-terror coalition.

China's Minister Wen Jiabao (溫家寶) and South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun have canceled a one-on-one meeting with Koizumi this year in protest of his visits to a war shrine.

Philippine Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said she hoped "these two very important friends of ours will be able to sort out their political differences because their economic relationship is very good."

Koizumi ASEAN leaders during their meeting yesterday that he found Wen's attitude to be inexplicable.

"No two nations are without their share of differences. I cannot understand why China won't have a meeting because of one problem," Koizumi was quoted as saying by a Japanese delegation official.

The Chinese delegation did not immediately respond, but Wen said late on Monday that Koizumi lacks the "correct approach toward historical questions ... deeply hurting the feeling[s] of the Chinese people, the Korean people and the people of Asia."

Koizumi his visits are meant to express his remorse about the war.

China South Korea say Japan has not fully atoned for wartime atrocities.

Meanwhile Russia held its first-ever summit with ASEAN, reflecting its desire to forge closer economic ties with the region.

The meetings in Kuala Lumpur end today when the 10 ASEAN leaders meet with counterparts from Japan, China, India, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand at the inaugural East Asia Summit.

The 16-country group aims for an eventual Asian economic community comprising half the world's population and a combined economy of US$8.3 trillion, but the region's many rivalries make that goal elusive.