- Title: CHINA: China calls on Japan to improve bilateral ties
- Date: 17th December 2012
- Summary: BEIJING, CHINA (DECEMBER 17, 2012) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY CHINESE NATIONAL FLAG FLYING CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESWOMAN HUA CHUNYING WALKING IN FOR REGULAR NEWS CONFERENCE JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESWOMAN HUA CHUNYING SAYING: "We think the most pressing issue is that Japan must show sincerity and take practical steps to appropriately deal with the present situation and work hard to resolve the issue and improve relations between the two countries." JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESWOMAN HUA CHUNYING SAYING: "We also pay great attention to Japan's development direction. We hope Japan can continue to go down the path of peaceful development and play a constructive role in the peace, stability and development of this region." NEWS CONFERENCE VARIOUS OF TRAFFIC ON STREET HUANG DAHUI, JAPAN EXPERT AT RENMIN UNIVERSITY, TALKING TO REPORTER HUANG'S HAND (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) HUANG DAHUI, JAPAN EXPERT AT RENMIN UNIVERSITY SAYING: "Personally I think tensions over the Diaoyu islands will ease up in general. As I mentioned before, the current Sino-Japan relationship overshadowed by quarrels over the Diaoyu islands is not normal. The Sino-Japan relations are not only about the Diaoyu islands. Secondly, disputes over the Diaoyu islands have already damaged the Sino-Japan relationship, both sides cannot afford to allow the problem to continue for a very long time." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING ON STREET (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) 32-YEAR-OLD LOCAL RESIDENT SUN HAOYANG SAYING: "The Diaoyu islands dispute was stirred up by Japan first. I think going back to the status quo is comparatively acceptable to both sides. But since Japan has made the first step, it would be very difficult to return to the status quo." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING ON STREET (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) 58-YEAR-OLD LOCAL RESIDENT KONG BO SAYING: "I think China-Japan relations will gradually improve after Abe takes power because Abe is a very experienced diplomat. It is understandable that he has adopted a tough position. He will be the leader of Japan after all, he is just trying to uphold his country's principles over the Diaoyu islands. It is totally understandable if we put ourselves in his shoes." PEOPLE WALKING ON STREET
- Embargoed: 1st January 2013 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: China
- Country: China
- Topics: International Relations,Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA202SQYD311S3RWIZC2C7D8QYR
- Story Text: China's Foreign Ministry said on Monday (December 17) that it hopes Japan can deal appropriately with existing problems in Sino-Japanese relations, after Japan's next prime minister, Shinzo Abe, said a group of disputed islands are Japanese territory.
"We think the most pressing issue is that Japan must show sincerity and take practical steps to appropriately deal with the present situation and work hard to resolve the issue and improve relations between the two countries," Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said in a daily news briefing.
"We also pay great attention to Japan's development direction. We hope Japan can continue to go down the path of peaceful development and play a constructive role in the peace, stability and development of this region," Hua added.
Ties between Asia's two biggest economies took a dive after Japan nationalised islets at the heart of a long dispute in September, prompting violent protests in China and a standoff in waters around the isles that has raised fears of a clash.
In a bid to underscore Japan's control over the East China Sea islands, called Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has promised to consider manning them and building structures on them, a move bound to outrage China.
Warnings from state Chinese media that Japan-China relations might suffer if Abe tried to push too hard show that he will have to walk a fine line between appearing soft and risking another damaging flare-up in tensions.
Abe, who quit as premier in 2007 citing ill health, has been talking tough in a row with China over uninhabited isles in the East China Sea, but some experts say he may temper his hard line with pragmatism once in office.
"Personally I think tensions over the Diaoyu islands will ease up in general. As I mentioned before, the current Sino-Japan relationship overshadowed by quarrels over the Diaoyu islands is not normal. The Sino-Japan relations are not only about the Diaoyu islands. Secondly, disputes over the Diaoyu islands have already damaged the Sino-Japan relationship, both sides cannot afford to allow the problem to continue for a very long time," said Huang Dahui, a Japan expert with China's Renmin University.
Abe proved he can be pragmatic in his first term in office when he surprised many by moving quickly to mend ties with Beijing.
He chose China as the destination of his first overseas trip and refrained from going to the Yasukuni Shrine for war dead, seen by many as a symbol of Japan's past militarism.
Some residents in Beijing expressed confidence in Abe, although others were still worried the territorial disputes might accelerate.
"The Diaoyu islands dispute was stirred up by Japan first. I think going back to the status quo is comparatively acceptable to both sides. But since Japan has made the first step, it would be very difficult to return to the status quo," said 32-year-old Sun Haoyang.
"I think China-Japan relations will gradually improve after Abe takes power because Abe is a very experienced diplomat. It is understandable that he has adopted a tough position. He will be the leader of Japan after all, he is just trying to uphold his country's principles over the Diaoyu islands. It is totally understandable if we put ourselves in his shoes," said 58-year-old Kong Bo.
Abe, the soft-spoken grandson of a prime minister is due to be confirmed as Japan's seventh premier in six years on December 26. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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