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Japan-China summit still uncertain
May 08, 2014
Pool photo/The Yomiuri Shimbun Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, second from right, and Masahiko Komura, vice president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, second from left, speak at a meeting in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Monday. Former Democratic Party of Japan leader Katsuya Okada is seen at left.
By Futoshi Ideguchi / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff WriterBEIJING—Masahiko Komura, vice president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party recently led a group of lawmakers on a mission to China, where they met with the third-ranking official of the Communist Party of China, Zhang Dejiang. At the meeting, Komura called for a Japan-China summit meeting on the sidelines of a summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum scheduled in November in Beijing. Zhang responded that he would convey Japan’s desire for a bilateral summit meeting to Chinese President Xi Jinping, but there has been no sign of a meaningful improvement in relations between the countries.
‘Mutually detrimental’ ties
At the outset of the meeting, Zhang, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, said, “I think the visit by the Japanese delegates to China under these current difficult circumstances shows a determination to promote efforts to improve China-Japan relations.”
Before the meeting, Zhang welcomed and shook hands with each of the nine members of the group, which included Kazuo Kitagawa, deputy head of the junior coalition partner New Komeito, and Katsuya Okada, former leader of the major opposition Democratic Party of Japan, at the Great Hall of the People facing Tiananmen Square.
Responding to Zhang, Komura said, “While the relationship between the countries should be a ‘mutually beneficial relationship based on common strategic interests,’ the current relationship is mutually detrimental and tactical in nature.”
At the meeting, Komura proposed to Zhang a meeting between Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Xi on the sidelines of November’s APEC summit.
In 2006, after being elected prime minister for the first time, Abe made his first official overseas visit to China. At a meeting with China’s then President Hu Jintao, the two leaders confirmed the shared goal of a “mutually beneficial relationship based on common strategic interests.” While Japan and China have different political systems, the concept outlined a policy described as “strategic,” which aimed at strengthening Japan-China relations both politically and economically.
However, recent bilateral relations have fallen far short of what was envisioned at that time. In the wake of the Japanese government’s nationalization of the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture in September 2012 especially, the Chinese government has carried out repeated provocative actions, including the declaration in November 2013 of an air defense identification zone over the East China Sea, including the Senkakus.
Summit a high hurdle
At the meeting Monday, Zhang emphasized, “The causes of the current deterioration in Japan-China relations lie with the Japanese side. I want Japan to address these problems.”
Zhang criticized Abe’s visit to Yasukuni Shrine in December saying, “The action sought to glorify the war.” He also reiterated China’s unilateral insistence that the Senkaku Islands are an integral part of China’s territories.
Komura replied, “Many Japanese share the view that the Japanese side was an offender and the Chinese side was its victim in a regrettable period in the past. Prime Minister Abe is not an exception.”
Ahead of the trip, Japan requested meetings between the delegation and Xi, Premier Li Keqiang and Yu Zhengsheng, chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and the fourth ranking member of the Communist Party of China, according to sources,
Komura said, however, that a direct meeting with Xi “is not realistic considering the current state of Japan-China relations.” Li is on a tour of African countries.
Zhang was the highest-ranked Chinese official who was available for a meeting.
A source in the Japanese government said, “It is likely that the Chinese side wanted to win over Mr. Komura, who is close to the prime minister.”
There has been no summit meeting between Japan and China since Abe’s inauguration as prime minister in December 2012.
Japanese government officials consider a summit meeting taking the form of one leader visiting the other’s country will be difficult to realize. The government is searching for an opportunity for the two leaders to hold a summit meeting on the sidelines of an international conference.
Officials believe that the most realistic venue for a summit meeting would be the sidelines of the upcoming APEC forum meeting in Beijing.
Sources report, however, that Abe will not alter his stance of rejecting any “prior conditions for holding summit meetings.”
More time will obviously be needed to improve Japan-China relations.
Japan-China summit still uncertain - The Japan News
May 08, 2014
Pool photo/The Yomiuri Shimbun Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, second from right, and Masahiko Komura, vice president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, second from left, speak at a meeting in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Monday. Former Democratic Party of Japan leader Katsuya Okada is seen at left.
By Futoshi Ideguchi / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff WriterBEIJING—Masahiko Komura, vice president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party recently led a group of lawmakers on a mission to China, where they met with the third-ranking official of the Communist Party of China, Zhang Dejiang. At the meeting, Komura called for a Japan-China summit meeting on the sidelines of a summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum scheduled in November in Beijing. Zhang responded that he would convey Japan’s desire for a bilateral summit meeting to Chinese President Xi Jinping, but there has been no sign of a meaningful improvement in relations between the countries.
‘Mutually detrimental’ ties
At the outset of the meeting, Zhang, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, said, “I think the visit by the Japanese delegates to China under these current difficult circumstances shows a determination to promote efforts to improve China-Japan relations.”
Before the meeting, Zhang welcomed and shook hands with each of the nine members of the group, which included Kazuo Kitagawa, deputy head of the junior coalition partner New Komeito, and Katsuya Okada, former leader of the major opposition Democratic Party of Japan, at the Great Hall of the People facing Tiananmen Square.
Responding to Zhang, Komura said, “While the relationship between the countries should be a ‘mutually beneficial relationship based on common strategic interests,’ the current relationship is mutually detrimental and tactical in nature.”
At the meeting, Komura proposed to Zhang a meeting between Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Xi on the sidelines of November’s APEC summit.
In 2006, after being elected prime minister for the first time, Abe made his first official overseas visit to China. At a meeting with China’s then President Hu Jintao, the two leaders confirmed the shared goal of a “mutually beneficial relationship based on common strategic interests.” While Japan and China have different political systems, the concept outlined a policy described as “strategic,” which aimed at strengthening Japan-China relations both politically and economically.
However, recent bilateral relations have fallen far short of what was envisioned at that time. In the wake of the Japanese government’s nationalization of the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture in September 2012 especially, the Chinese government has carried out repeated provocative actions, including the declaration in November 2013 of an air defense identification zone over the East China Sea, including the Senkakus.
Summit a high hurdle
At the meeting Monday, Zhang emphasized, “The causes of the current deterioration in Japan-China relations lie with the Japanese side. I want Japan to address these problems.”
Zhang criticized Abe’s visit to Yasukuni Shrine in December saying, “The action sought to glorify the war.” He also reiterated China’s unilateral insistence that the Senkaku Islands are an integral part of China’s territories.
Komura replied, “Many Japanese share the view that the Japanese side was an offender and the Chinese side was its victim in a regrettable period in the past. Prime Minister Abe is not an exception.”
Ahead of the trip, Japan requested meetings between the delegation and Xi, Premier Li Keqiang and Yu Zhengsheng, chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and the fourth ranking member of the Communist Party of China, according to sources,
Komura said, however, that a direct meeting with Xi “is not realistic considering the current state of Japan-China relations.” Li is on a tour of African countries.
Zhang was the highest-ranked Chinese official who was available for a meeting.
A source in the Japanese government said, “It is likely that the Chinese side wanted to win over Mr. Komura, who is close to the prime minister.”
There has been no summit meeting between Japan and China since Abe’s inauguration as prime minister in December 2012.
Japanese government officials consider a summit meeting taking the form of one leader visiting the other’s country will be difficult to realize. The government is searching for an opportunity for the two leaders to hold a summit meeting on the sidelines of an international conference.
Officials believe that the most realistic venue for a summit meeting would be the sidelines of the upcoming APEC forum meeting in Beijing.
Sources report, however, that Abe will not alter his stance of rejecting any “prior conditions for holding summit meetings.”
More time will obviously be needed to improve Japan-China relations.
Japan-China summit still uncertain - The Japan News
