China, Japan leaders seek closer ties
By JOSEPH COLEMAN, Associated Press Writer
3 minutes ago
Japanese and Chinese leaders heralded a new era of closer ties between the two Asian powers Wednesday, moving to repair relations damaged by a harsh dispute over history and signing accords on energy and environmental protection.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met at the outset of Wen's visit to Tokyo, the first by a Chinese leader for nearly seven years. The meeting followed an ice-breaking trip by Abe to China in October.
Kyodo News agency also reported the two agreed to seek ways to jointly develop gas deposits in disputed waters, pursue the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, and "face up to history" in building forward-looking relations.
"Our talks will be a big step toward building strategically and mutually beneficial relations," Abe told Wen at the start of their talks at his office complex after welcoming him on with a red carpet, despite the rain.
"That is the most important goal of my visit," said the Chinese leader, who was meeting Abe for the third time in six months. "We need to talk about the details of what strategically and mutually beneficial relations would entail."
The environmental accord called for the two to work on a successor to the Kyoto Protocol on climate change by 2013. China is in the Kyoto pact, but its emissions are a rising concern as the economy rapidly expands.
The other agreement committed Japan and China to cooperate on developing energy resources. But the deal did not mention the countries' heated dispute over exploitation of natural gas reserves in the East China Sea.
The visit was a high-profile follow-up to Abe's landmark summit with Chinese leaders in Beijing in October, which staunched a deterioration in ties that had troubled the region and Japan's top ally, the United States.
The two neighbors have important economic incentives to cooperate. China, including Hong Kong, is Japan's No. 1 trading partner and Japanese companies are eager for access to Chinese consumers and labor. China, meanwhile, seeks Japanese investment.
Wen arrived just hours after the two countries signed an accord lifting Beijing's four-year ban on Japanese rice imports. China banned imports in 2003, claiming Japanese rice did not qualify for its tightened quarantine system.
The Japanese were eager to stifle talk of disagreements. When asked about reports that Wen considered the visit an "ice-melting" trip, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki said: "We're not aware of any remaining ice."
The Chinese premier was scheduled to give a speech to parliament and meet with business leaders and the emperor on Thursday, and even join in a game of baseball with college students in western Japan on Friday before returning to China.
The visit represents a further easing of ties strained for several years by Abe's predecessor, Junichiro Koizumi, who angered Beijing and other Asian neighbors with repeated visits to a Tokyo shrine honoring Japanese war dead, including executed war criminals.
Japan invaded China in the 1930s and occupied huge swaths of the country until Tokyo's 1945 defeat in World War II.
Abe, however, moved quickly to repair ties with visits to Beijing and Seoul in October, only weeks after taking office. Wen's appearance in Tokyo should set the stage for a subsequent visit by Chinese President Hu Jintao to Japan and perhaps another Abe trip to China.
The history issue, however, remains simmering below the surface. Wen has urged Japanese leaders not to go to the Yasukuni war shrine. Abe has not visited as prime minister, but refuses to say whether he will or not.
Japanese officials are also concerned by China's rapid increase in military spending, while Beijing has warily watched Tokyo build up military ties with the United States.
********************************************************
I percieve this as a positive development for the Japanese side mainly because I dont see where China makes any gains with improved ties to Japan. Economically the trade between the countries is already strong, but the nationalist chinese view that maintains its anger of the invasion during WWII might begin to erode with recognition and imroved relations.
I am curious what other backroomers think about the Chinese Japanese political situation.
Re: China, Japan leaders seek closer ties
To answer your question:
Quote:
The environmental accord called for the two to work on a successor to the Kyoto Protocol on climate change by 2013. China is in the Kyoto pact, but its emissions are a rising concern as the economy rapidly expands.
That may be a large part of it. It could be to put pressure on the US to adopt the protocol in part or whole reducing our economic power. That's my conspiracy theory for the day; I'm too tired to reason it out. I just hope Japan isn't doing it out of a perceived weakness of the US.
Re: China, Japan leaders seek closer ties
Quote:
Originally Posted by Odin
I percieve this as a positive development for the Japanese side mainly because I dont see where China makes any gains with improved ties to Japan. Economically the trade between the countries is already strong, but the nationalist chinese view that maintains its anger of the invasion during WWII might begin to erode with recognition and imroved relations.
I am curious what other backroomers think about the Chinese Japanese political situation.
It cuts down political options at home, since it will become less convenient to rouse the rabble against the hated Japanese, but it will open up more political options abroad, as they will gain access to Japan's diplomatic base. It probably means they feel secure enough at home to feel able to reach further abroad. If they're going to exercise their power anyway, let's just be grateful they're doing so peacefully and diplomatically.
Re: China, Japan leaders seek closer ties
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pannonian
but it will open up more political options abroad, as they will gain access to Japan's diplomatic base.
Intresting, i hadnt really thought of the global diplomatic impact. Perhaps my view is to narrow but in my lifetime diplomacy between these two was always under the backdrop of the historical realities of WWII.
Perhaps your right, China is certainly a savvy player given your thought above (assuming its true, which seems very plausable)
Re: China, Japan leaders seek closer ties
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vladimir
To answer your question:
That may be a large part of it. It could be to put pressure on the US to adopt the protocol in part or whole reducing our economic power. That's my conspiracy theory for the day; I'm too tired to reason it out. I just hope Japan isn't doing it out of a perceived weakness of the US.
A conspiracy theory involving a weak united states in the backroom? Nah... :laugh4:
Maybe it does mean this, but I dont see this as somehow the U.S. being the catalyst for the improvements, maybe as a side note but I think this is more to do with the two biggest kids on the bloc trying to find common ground instead of the incesent little spats (oil drilling in the north china sea, the war shrine, north korea).
However i have no doubt that there are plenty who believe this is yet another cause and effect of the rapid decline of the U.S. and the Bush administration. :laugh4:
