China again expresses strong displeasure to Japan on Lee Teng-hui´s visit

China and Costa Rica have established diplomatic ties. Here in Beijing, the Foreign Ministry says it marks a brand-new stage in the development of bilateral relations.

But, in other news, officals have voiced China's dissatisfaction with Japan for allowing former Taiwan leader Lee Teng-hui to visit the Yasukuni Shrine.

China and Costa Rica have announced they will establish diplomatic ties, after the Latin American country agreed to break official relations with Taiwan. A foreign ministry spokeswoman says the move is in the interests of peoples of both countries. She also stressed the importance of the One-China policy.

Jiang Yu, spokeswoman Chinese Foreign Ministry, said, "China has established diplomatic ties with 169 countries. The One-China policy has been widely accepted worldwide."

Some Central and Latin American nations haven't established diplomatic ties with China. Jiang says China would like to set up and develop normal state relations with these countries, and hopes they will change their stance on the Taiwan issue.

Jiang has also expressed China's strong dissatisfaction with Japan for allowing former Taiwan leader Lee Teng-hui's visit to Tokyo's Yasukuni war shrine.

Jiang said, "We all know what Lee Teng-hui wants judging from what he has done in Japan. China expresses strong dissatisfaction, again, towards Japan giving permission to his visit."

Lee Teng-hui visited the Yasukuni Shrine Thursday, where his elder brother is enshrined with Japanese world war two criminals.

A better way for Japan to live with its neighbours

In recent years foreign observers have reported increasing nationalistic pride in Japan. Such growing sentiment is rooted in frustration over gaps between Japan's security policy and the reality of today's world, and between contemporary Japan and its wartime past.

Japan's humiliation during the 1991 Gulf war first revealed the gap between the constraints of its pacifist constitution and the demands of the post-cold-war world. Despite its $13bn (€9.9bn) contribution, Japan was criticised for its inability to participate in the operations of the coalition forces. Meanwhile, controversy over Japan's wartime past - exemplified by the Yasukuni shrine, which honours 2.5m war dead, including 14 Class A war criminals - has loomed over its relations with neighbours, creating an opening for a harmful strain of nationalism.

The situation today is entirely different from that of the postwar era, when phenomenal economic growth was a source of national pride, absorbing many of the frustrations about external affairs. The rise of China and tensions vis-à-vis North Korea have deepened Japan's uncertainty about its contemporary surroundings. Domestic political developments in recent years have exacerbated the problem and fostered a policy-making process that is increasingly influenced by populism. Such capitalisation on popular frustrations can have dangerous consequences, particularly in foreign policy.

Japan's close relationship with the US has also contributed to nationalistic sentiments. The US has played an invaluable part in Japan's development as a member of the international community, yet its role as security guarantor has allowed Japan to avoid dealing with its contemporary contradictions. If these persist, they will not only damage Japan's national interest but may undermine the Japan-US relationship.

As the international community has increasingly faced non-traditional threats such as terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, the regional and global security environment has become more complex. This has brought the contradiction between Japan's pacifist constitution and its 60-year-old security policy, dependent on US military might, to the fore.

In light of domestic and foreign expectations for Japan to contribute internationally and assume a greater role in its own security, the country has enacted measures that authorise it to deal more directly with regional contingencies. Examples include the guidelines for Japan-US defence co-operation in 1997 and the anti-terrorism special measures law of 2001. A debate has also begun over revising Article 9, the "no war" clause of the constitution, to permit the use of force.

To respond adequately to non-traditional threats, Japan needs to discard the fictions and taboos constraining its security policy and articulate how and when it might use force - not as a means of resolving international disputes, but as part of the international community's collective self-defence.

Moves to reconcile the contradictions in Japan's security policy are best complemented by efforts to improve ties with east Asian neighbours and help build a more peaceful, prosperous and co-operative region. History has been one obstacle. Japan should not forget its past, but a focus merely on historical issues will exacerbate tensions. All sides must stop politicising history.

China's future role in east Asia also looms large over discussions about regional co-operation. China is in trans-ition. Japan must engage it as a great power and encourage it to align its interests with the rest of the region.

The key to building a prosperous and stable east Asia is to strengthen a sense of regional community by identifying areas of common interest - such as energy, the environment, income disparities, Aids and piracy - and working jointly on them step by step.

Intra-regional economic co-operation is making quick progress and the potential for further expansion of econ-omic ties should be emphasised.

The rise of nationalistic sentiment has become one of the challenges facing Japan as it debates its identity in the post-cold-war world. A two-pronged approach - revising outdated security policies and building an east Asian community - can help bridge the gaps that give rise to these sentiments, so that nationalism can be channelled in a constructive direction. This wouldenable Japan to live up to its potential as a respected leader in the region and in the world.

Chinese Premier Urges Japan, China to Work Together, Put History Behind Them

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao says Japan and his own country should heal the long-festering wounds of war and work toward more cooperation. Mr. Wen made the appeal in a speech to Japan's parliament on the second day of his visit to the country. VOA's Luis Ramirez has more from Tokyo.

Wen Jiabao came to Tokyo to mend relations scarred by China's memories of Japanese aggression during the first half of the twentieth century.

Mr. Wen was greeted by applause from Japanese lawmakers when he entered to the room deliver the first speech to the Japanese parliament by a Chinese leader in more than two decades.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao addresses Japanese Parliament, 12 Apr 2007

He told Japanese lawmakers that Japan's invasion of China in the 1930's and 40's left indescribable scars and pain in the hearts of the Chinese people. But in a significant overture to Japanese sensibilities, he said the war also caused enormous suffering among the people of Japan. He said the blame went to a handful of militarists, not the Japanese people, and he said China credits Japan for the apologies it has offered.

Despite his overture, Mr. Wen indicated the memory of war has not been erased, and he urged Japan to confront its past openly - something successive Japanese governments have been reluctant to do.

"In our hearts we hope Japan will take the opportune momentum to reflect on its relevant positions and promises," he said.

Relations between the two Asian powers were badly strained during the 2001-2006 tenure of Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, who repeatedly visited the Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo, where convicted war criminals are among those honored.

China has repeatedly urged Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe not to visit Yasukuni. Japan sees the religious shrine as a place where the country pays tribute to all of its war dead, while China, along with South Korea, views it as a symbol of Japanese militarism.

Another source of bitterness between the two nations has been a dispute over control of potential oil and gas reserves in the East China Sea.

Mr. Wen told Japanese lawmakers it is clear his visit will not fix all of the problems between the two countries, and he said the focus now should be on building cooperation on trade and other issues.

"It should be acknowledged that China and Japan still have differences on some issues of concrete interests and on views of some issues," he noted.

Protesters block busy Tokyo intersection briefly, 12 Apr 2007

The Chinese premier's visit triggered loud protests Thursday by nationalist groups, who are angry at what they see as Prime Minister Abe's bowing to China's communist government.

One protest tied up traffic briefly in a major intersection of the capital.

Chinese Premier Wen, Abe open economic dialogue

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao shakes hands with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the start of the Japan-China High-level Economic Dialogue at the foreign ministry's Iikura guest house in Tokyo April 12, 2007. [Reuters]

TOKYO: China and Japan revitalized their high-level economic dialogue Thursday, with Premier Wen Jiabao and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe being keen to build strategic and mutually beneficial relations.

The dialogue is a big boost to the two countries' economic ties and is seen as one of the highlights of Wen's three-day visit to Japan.

Wen and Abe co-chaired the inaugural economic dialogue at Japanese Foreign Ministry's Iikura guesthouse and agreed to hold its first session in Beijing later this year.

Wen said the dialogue is to create a forum for the two sides to exchange their economic development strategy and macro-economic policy and enhance mutual understanding.

The move is aimed at coordinating and pushing forward cooperation in the key economic fields of energy, the environment, finance, hi-tech, communication and intellectual property right (IPR) protection, he said.

It will serve as a platform for the two countries to exchange policies on regional and international economic issues and help expand cooperation in wider sectors.

The dialogue is a key mechanism, Wen said, for building strategic and mutually beneficial ties between China and Japan, and it complements already established cooperative mechanisms.

Abe corroborated Wen and underscored the two countries' dependence on each other's economy, calling the dialogue a "new step forward in Japan-China economic ties",

Abe said the two sides have the responsibility of helping resolve global issues, such as climate change, IPR and the WTO's Doha Round of multilateral trade negotiations.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (L) and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe attend the establishment of a mechanism of high-level economic dialogue, in Tokyo, capital of Japan on April 12, 2007. (Xinhua Photo/Fan Rujun)

There is a need for the top economic leaders of both countries to personally meet and frankly talk to deal with those issues properly.

Wen and Abe appointed Chinese Vice-Premier Zeng Peiyan and Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso, respectively, the co-chairs of the economic dialogue.

Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing, minister in charge of the State Department and Reform Commission Ma Kai and Commerce Minister Bo Xilai are among the senior officials to join Zeng.

The core members of the Japanese team are Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Akira Amari, Finance Minister Koji Omi and Economic and Fiscal Policy Minister Hiroko Ota.

Before the dialogue, Wen had lunch with businessmen from major Japanese trade and commerce organizations to get more business for the country.

He reiterated China's determination on currency reform and IPR protection and said the government wants to take bilateral economic ties to a new high.

China is Japan's No 1 trading partner, with the two-way trade volume being US$207.3 billion last year. But the volume was only US$1.1 billion 35 years ago, when the two countries normalized relations.

Chinese Premier Wen Puts History Aside, Visits Japan

A smiling Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao sipped green tea and declared his trip to Japan a success Friday, wrapping up a three-day tour aimed at cementing rejuvenated ties and drawing Japanese investment in China.

Wen, putting finishing touches on the first visit by a Chinese premier in nearly seven years, traveled to the ancient capital of Kyoto after two days in Tokyo during which he called for improved relations between Asia's top two economies.

"Many Japanese people have said that the objective of the ice-melting trip has been achieved," Wen said before leaving for Kyoto. Kyodo News agency quoted him as adding, however: "I cannot say all problems have been solved. We need more time."

Indeed, Wen's trip was heavy on broad statements of goodwill and atmospherics, but short on concrete solutions to the two countries' enduring conflicts over wartime history and maritime territory.

The visit followed Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's groundbreaking trip to Beijing in October, a major step by Tokyo to repair ties that had seriously deteriorated during the 2001-2006 term of his predecessor, Junichiro Koizumi.

Wen managed to set a relaxed, friendly tone for the talks. He went for morning jogs while in Tokyo, performed tai chi poses for the cameras and used every opportunity to declare a new era of cooperation with Japan.

Arriving in Kyoto, Wen attended a traditional Japanese tea ceremony in a parlor with the phrase "Mutual Respect" written in calligraphy on the wall. Later he laid flowers at a memorial to late Chinese Premier Zhou En-lai in Kyoto, proclaiming him a "pioneer" in forging ties between the two nations.

"Relations between our two countries will continue to strengthen," Wen said. "I hope that soon the flower of friendship will bloom."

Wen also had plans to toss a baseball around with college students and have dinner with business executives in the area before heading back to Beijing in the evening.

The two countries' problems were never far below the surface, however.

In a speech to parliament on Thursday, Wen urged lawmakers not to forget their past aggressions, referring to Japanese invasions of China in the 1930s and 40s that left the country a shambles.

At the same time, Wen appeared more conciliatory than previous visiting Chinese leaders, acknowledging Japan's past apologies over the war, while urging Tokyo to turn that contrition into concrete actions.

Koichi Nakano, political scientist at Tokyo's Sophia University, said the two sides had more work to do, but that the trip appeared to have kept the momentum moving in the right direction.

"Both the Chinese and the Japanese sides wanted to turn the visit into a success in the sense that they didn't want any major disruptions," he said. "At the same time, I don't think it's accurate to say that good will is completely restored or that both sides fully trust one another."