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Japan's envoy to U.S. urges calm amid tensions with China

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By MATTHEW PENNINGTON

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It is fine for everyone to have an opinion, but.... in all these opinions I have been reading there is a common trend of those made by the Chinese here. They all show hatred towards Japan and not the other way around. There is a very prominent difference in what the people of China see towards the Japanese than what the Japanese feel towards Chinese. Japan or any country that is continually bashed by another is not going to sit quiet, so Japan is not sitting quiet as China has and is continually feeding hate within China society against Japan and its people today, and Japan has no reason what so ever to sit quietly and not defend itself,. Reality is reality and China in reality is and has been for some time now, the aggressor in the Asian pacific region on all fronts. This is total fact in everyone's face. Another face being, no one in the world has embraced China's aggressive actions in the region as for the East China sea and South China Sea, but has only condemned China's actions around the world.!

8 ( +9 / -1 )

The topic seems to concentrate on China and Japan only, but that should not be, because China is clashing with just about every neighbor in the region with outlandish claims. Vietnam with killings of Vietnamese fishermen, India , cross border incursions, Philippines and China's forced patrolling right off their shores, recent reports on Malaysia!!!! These articles should never be concentrated on just Japan when China is involved because China is involved with many others in the region when it comes to aggression and force against others in the region. Even if it is an article published from US sources there is the aggressive actions of US ships in the region that should also be included on any topic about China in any article. China is the aggressor when it comes to soured ties with anyone! I do not find it sad, I find it infuriating to read the hatred in the minds of the Chinese placed their by the ruthless leaders that has been hel bent on domination shown by the millions of Chinese lives they have sacrificed just in the last 50 years for that obsession of ,,,, domination and power., it is a fact. China's people have been so brainwashed with the dictator type tactics of rule, it is hard to believe the people of China still bow to such ignorance by their leaders that control them as a society here today with the development of their economy but no advancement in China society so far when looking at social norms in China compare to the rest of the developed societies around the world today. This is what I find sad.

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Octagon - you're correct in that people are loving the tourism dollars coming from China. Even Japan loves that. But that doesn't equate to a blanket acceptance of all things Chinese. I hear it from a lot of people when I am traveling for business that they still won't buy many things Chinese, even if they like the tourism dollars. A lot of the people telling me that are of Chinese decent even!

6 ( +7 / -1 )

So, what else is new?

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rsgz4gg7y2Jan. 31, 2014 - 09:59AM JST All these calls for dialogue are due to American pressure. Japan, or at least Abe's government, has no real intention to >talk.

I guess that's why Japan keeps tryng to arrange a meeting and China just keeps on refusing.

What to talk about anyway? About the island dispute? Japan says island is not subject to dialogue since it's Japan's >undisputed territory.

If so China needs to stop intruding every week.

Talk about the "China threat"? China doesn't think there is such threat.

Except that the entire world thinks China is a threat.

So there is really nothing to talk about.

This reflects China's position, very mature, rational and condusive to peace in the region.

5 ( +12 / -6 )

You know, the people on JT who constantly bring up Japan's war record are as bad as the Chinese and South Koreans. It's becoming boring. How much longer are these calls for new apologies going to go around? Does every Japanese PM have to apologise for eternity?

I want the Japanese government to do the same to the Chinese - I want them to constantly bring up China's human rights record, the massacres during the cultural revolution, the crushing of unborn babies to make some kind of drug, the choking clouds of pollution wafting across Asia... these are more recent than WW2, and some are still happening. Sadly the rest of the world needs Chinese money... so they turn a blind eye. I mean even the UK is relaxing some visa restrictions on Chinese tourists... blind!

If the US is going to rely on the Japanese for their bases in Okinawa then they really need to stand shoulder to shoulder with them.

As for Yasukune:

Among the 2.5 million war dead commemorated at the shrine are 14 class A war criminals from World War II.

14 out of 2.5 million. 14. So does that mean that every single person who attends that shrine is honouring those 14? Bollox.

5 ( +9 / -4 )

aussie-musashi

And yet it only takes a glance at the bigger picture (the South China Sea) to see that this tension is not a simple case of Japan being obstinate towards China. The tension is region-wide. Japan-China grabs the headlines because they are two major economies, and because Japan has the hardware to put up a good defense, unlike the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei. This whole thing is interconnected, and the region honestly cannot afford to have JApan just roll over.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

@aussie-musashi I didn't specifically point out visiting Yasukuni Shrine. I'm merely generalising beside some people do think it's a small issue and unfortunately there's nothing to convince them that it's a big problem. I find it silly that this issue was the catalyst to sour the international relation between three countries. If there's anything to take away from this article, most politicians are slimy, uncharismatic and downright atrocious at their jobs, I can't believe the people are willing to defend their actions.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

@aussie-musashi I think pretty much any countries are aware of the numbers. The only ones that are not quite convinced are the ultra-nationalists. No matter how convincing the arguments have been made, so far it fell on deaf ears. So, it is important to know when to give up and be more adult about this than trying to stoop to their level. However all three countries are doing their best in latter in territory disputes and now Yasukuni Shrine issue.

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aussie-musashi

It may sound silly and insignificant, but if you were Chinese - with 15 to 20 million killed at the hands of the imperial army, or a Korean, with 35 years of colonisation the chances would be higher than you`d be offended by a visit to a shrine that honours war criminals

Possibly, but why don't you ask the people who fled to Taiwan and Hong Kong in the late 1940s, 50s and 60s how they feel too? After all, that was a lot more recent than WW2. While most folks were enjoying The Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Hendrix and free love, millions of Chinese were being executed or sent to re-education camps. And btw, those re-education camps only got abolished last year.

So in a way you could actually be right. To millions of Chinese it may indeed sound silly and insignificant. I take it you're not even Chinese and yet you're living vicariously in the past (and seem to revel in it).

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Actually Its 1000 war criminals in total. The 14 were the class a ones. Its the people who visit the shrine in a political capacity that are the problem.

So if your average Japanese chap, lady or school party visit Yasukune it's fine, but as soon as a politician visits they are honouring war criminals? I don't accept that. You can't pick and choose who is singled out as honouring war criminals based on their status.

Anyway, back on topic and America really does need to stand shoulder to shoulder with Japan. Abe is transient... he will go one day and a new PM will take his place, policies will change, etc.... unlike China, which is stuck in the past, hiding its own brutality and violence behind a smokescreen of rhetoric. (Ooh that was quite good for a Friday!)

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So Chucky, you see Yasukune as ONLY honouring war criminals? What a narrow minded attitude.

Zenpun...

Everybody needs good neighbor. He should be friendly and tolerate with neighbors.

Abe isn't being the unfriendly one.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Impossible to be constructive when China was never really diplomatic to begin with. Any small issues set off China but apparently some people don't get it.

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Negotiate a mutually acceptable solution - certainly

That would certainly be nice, though both countries have very different ideas about what that solution would look like. Thing is, can China be trusted in negotiations if things aren't going its way?

In December, it withdrew from a UN arbitration process dealing with its territorial dispute with the Philippines – the first time any state, let alone a permanent member of the Security Council, has taken such a step – and sent its first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, to the zone.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/10553628/Are-China-Japan-and-South-Korea-fanning-the-flames-of-war.html

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But mainly from Japan!

Are you for real?

Maybe visiting Yasukuni wasn't the smartest diplomatic move, but as another poster noted, the governments of China (and the Koreas) will continue their hostile stance anyway.

I'm hoping the younger generations will have more sense. Consistent aggressive behaviour does not lead to peace.

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StrangerlandFeb. 01, 2014 - 12:56AM JST JoeBigs - China isn't even remotely communist.

No you are wrong. China, The PRC is controlled by the Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). That PRC has made changes towards "capitalism" gives you the impression that they are no longer communist but that is incorrect. Most of the large industries are state or partially state owned. Land can not be owned as it is owned by the State and collectives. Land "use rights" are transferred the way land ownership (deeds) are in capitalist nations.

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aussie-musashiFeb. 01, 2014 - 12:01PM JST No its not, its a war memorial that enshrines 1000 war criminals, AND has a revisionist museum right next door.

Just because you want something to be something other than what it is doesn't make it so. These are your propaganda driven opinions and not fact driven.

Mao's tomb is a memorial that houses the remains of the world greatest mass murderer and worst war criminal. Every Communist Chinese leader visits it regularly where is your outrage for those visits?

Heck tell us all, do you have any issues with that monument or not?

My guess is that your outrage is only against Japan.

So, are you outraged or is it okay in your book for Communist Chinese leaders to visit Mao's tomb and pay their respects?

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Chinese people have learned to avoid politics

This and all the other nonsense in the post is laughable. Chinese people, when they engage in politics, are run over by tanks, intimidated, locked up after a show trial or locked up without trial. It doesn't take much to find out about this - do a Google search. Oh, but if you're in China you can't do that because the Internet is censored and monitored.

It is held to be a great model for a lot of countries to follow.

Oh my goodness. Do you really believe this?

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Word of the day is AGGRESSION

I see that all of the usual Communist's and their allies here have come out with their usual silly propaganda.

Ambassador Sasae has stated the obvious and the Communist here make silly comments like;

Good! He should be run out of Tokyo too.

That being said, stop pretending your nation is perfect and does no wrong

Talk about the "China threat"? China doesn't think there is such threat.

He cant insist there`s no dispute over the Diaoyu islands, while inisting there is one with South Korea, and then ask for dialogue

It is very hard for hating that old and ancient civilization with repetitive hateful propaganda.

Actually Its 1000 war criminals in total.

but after years of watching state-sponsored whitewashing of history and denials of any wrong doing I finally woke up

As they continue to stoke the flames and push their neighbours into the current tensions.

It's a full court press of nonsense and silly Communist rhetoric. They can't even admit that Communist China is using force to take what it claims is theirs. But, Communist China is only taking territories of nations that can't defend themselves.

Only reason they haven't fully invaded the Senkaku islands is that Japan would fight back and that's what Communist China doesn't want.

I am so glad that the Leftist DPJ got the boot, because if they were still in power they would have given Xi the keys to the kingdom long ago.

Communist China wants to do exactly what Germany did just before WWII, they want to take what they think is theirs no matter what and to hell with diplomacy and international laws.

Let's see how Webster's defines the word of the day, AGGRESSION

1: a forceful action or procedure (as an unprovoked attack) especially when intended to dominate or master.

Communist China is the AGGRESSOR of the whole of Asia, case closed.

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Do Japanese text books actually deny Japanese war crimes? Do they actually, in ink, deny that Japan carried out any war crimes? Or is it that there is no reference to comfort women, Nanjing, etc...? I don't remember reading any school history books about the British herding Boors into camps, massacres in India, etc. I know they happened, but omission is not the same as a denial.

Anyway, China will never be happy until Japan is either blown apart by a super volcano or sinks under the sea.

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Don't confuse the topics, which are the territory dispute and history issues, nothing about communist. One thing is certain: the war could have been launched if China is so called democratic country because more than 90% Chinese people support doing that no matter whatever costs.

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Propaganda is a great tool until someone eye gets put out! The Communist here are going to put their eyes out with their Red Ryder BB gun propaganda, but they just don't know it. If you guys had a leg of reality to stand on no one would be rebuking your bunk.

Trust me when I say, if your bunk had any and I do mean any semblance of reality you wouldn't have an argument from even me. But, your argument is so filled with propaganda and complete "what ifs" childish nonsense that the only folks that fall for it are your fellow water internet army members, like Smith.

aussie-musashiFeb. 01, 2014 - 01:44PM JST Every Communist Chinese leader visits it regularly where is your outrage for those visits? Incorrect analogy. The debate of this topic is not about Mao's domestic policies during the Great Leap Forward and Cultural Revolution (Tibet being a possible exception.

Scratching the surface of Mao's carnage is just minimizing what he and his CPC counter parts did. Look into the atrocities he and his gang committed against his own people during the Civil War.

Mao's forces used terrorist tactics against civilians and soft targets to try and win their war. Again, follow what I am saying, it is estimated that Mao and his forces killed off over 4,000,000 civilians in their war of terror better known as the Chinese Civil war ( if any can truly be a civil war). The real numbers may never be known because the Communist Party has hidden them from sight.

It is further estimated that the whole civil war costs the deaths of over 7,000,000 Chinese civilians. The Chinese Civil War lasted from 1927 until 1950 give or take a day.

But, after Mao and his insane Communist took power the death toll excelled over 40,000,000 more deaths. Again no one really knows how many because the CPC has hidden the atrocities. More being the word of the day. The real numbers will only be known when the Communist are removed from power and the veil of lies are removed.

The horrors of Communism is the bane of creativity and mankind along with Fascism. Both are a product of the same insanity, Marx's fantasy or Communist Utopia.

flowersFeb. 01, 2014 - 09:21AM JST It is a Chinese way of managing that huge country and for the past several decades it has been very successful. It is held to be a great model for a lot of countries to follow.

Pardon me while my jaw drops off my skull from complete disbelief!

Communist China has murdered off possibly 100 Million people in the last 6 decades and you call this insanity, and I quote , a great model for a lot of countries to follow!!!!!

If 10 countries followed this insanity the world's population would be 1,000,000,000 people short! If 100 hundred followed it the world would be a lonely place.

Wow, dare I say, you are truly brainwashed.......100 Million human beings are dead and you think it's a great thing!

Only a Communist would think that is a great thing!

1 ( +3 / -2 )

I don't understand why is not a rule that a Member of the UN Perm Security Council can ignore the legal arm of the UN itself, the International Court of Justice. It seems to me that becoming a signatory to the agreement accepting ICJ ruling should be mandatory for such countries.

0 ( +7 / -6 )

StrangerlandFeb. 01, 2014 - 12:56AM JST JoeBigs - China isn't even remotely communist.

Again with the, they're not Communist, they're just a bunch of good guys, trust them, really!"

Come on man, who controls the government of China? The CPC controls it, what does the CPC stand for?

China Peace Council? No, it stands for Communist Party of China. If that doesn't tell you who they are then let's dig deeper.

The CCCP aka Soviet Union didn't allow any other political party's, the CPC, same.

The CCCP's ideology was Communist, the CPC, the same.

The CCCP was controlled by the Politburo, the CPC, the same.

Did CCCP allow Freedom of the Press? No, the CCCP controlled and censored everything coming in and out of the Country. How about the CPC, same.

Did the CCCP allow Freedom of Expression? No, the only Freedom of Expression they allowed was what they deemed to be acceptable. How about the CPC, same again.

The CCCP's leadership, or those that choose the course of the nation will take were all Communist. How about the CPC, same.

And that is why Communist China is Communist, because everything that happens happens because the politburo wants it to happen.

Remember, if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck it's a duck no matter how much you don't want it to be a duck, it is still a duck.

Now, the big difference between Communist China and Communist Russia is, well that is simple, Communist China is using Capitalist greed to build itself up.

Now, here's the funny part, you can't open Pandora's Box and expect to close it anytime you want.

Communist China's leaders are worried, Document Number 9 proves this. They are worried that the influx of all these Western investors and tons of wealth will be their undoing and they are right.

Because with wealth comes independence and with independence comes freedom of thought. Freedom of thought leads to a realization that they (the Chinese PEOPLE) are not free but in fact are controlled by the Communist and no one likes being controlled after they have awoken.

Western Democratic ideals have put the Communist politburo at a heightened state. I dare say that things will get worse before they get better. Democratic ideals is what brought down the Soviet Union. No, it wasn't Ronald Reagan, no, an IDEA was the real reason and Freedom was that IDEA.

Document number 9 has shown that the Communist are scrambling to reign in any all signs of Freedom. But, happily for the PEOPLE of China that boat sailed long ago.

You see, Communism doesn't work, but the only people who don't understand this are the Communist themselves.

Only way for Communism to work is if the entire world is Communist, but that is a pipe dream. Most of the civilized world has tasted Freedom and they like it.

Communism is and was a fairy tale dream dreamt up during an age of innocence. If only Karl Marx had lived to see what horrors his fairy tale brought to the world, he may have burnt his book before releasing it.

0 ( +5 / -5 )

The fact of the matter still stands, the only nation today that has invaded it's neighbor's territories is Communist China. You can try and spin that Communist China is a big fuzzy panda. But, that panda has dreams of becoming a dragon and that's where the problem lies.

Instead of being a nation that helps it's neighbors Communist China has consistently done the reverse. Communist China has redrawn the map of the South China Sea and now it says it's all theirs and anyone who dares oppose them will suffer.

Just look at Communist China's passport and see what is printed as the Chinese territorial map. The map includes India's territories that China claims as it's own, the passport map also show territories which belong to Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and some parts of Indonesia as Communist Chinese territories.

Just more proof of Communist China's dreams and plans. They will invade and try to take what is not theirs. That is another reason that they want a weak Japan. Japan stands in the way of their plans. Just look at a world map and see why.

flowersFeb. 01, 2014 - 09:21AM JST In fact, China is now a capitalist country with a Communist Party in power.

You have just contradicted yourself.

80393Feb. 01, 2014 - 05:59AM JST joe- why is stating that there are, in fact, over 1000 war criminals enshrined at yasukuni communist propaganda?

The shrine is a war memorial that's it, every nation has their own and every nation who has ever fought a war has committed war crimes. The only difference here is that China and the Korea's are using Japan's as poster boys for their nationalist propaganda.

Behind the propaganda are demands, better know in the real word as blackmail. China wants Japan to stop spending money on it's military and leave Asia and Africa to Communist China's whims. Korea wants Japan to pay, but payment is just the profit. Korea's motivation is a need to prove that it is a strong nation. In other words Korea has a giant inferiority complex and bashing Japan is the only way they can feel better.

Japan can apologize 50 times, oh wait they did a bit more than that......Let me try that again, Japan could apologize 100 times a day for the next 100 years and Communist China and Korea would not stop their propaganda.

You see the reason if you give into a blackmailer he will never go away. The best way to stop a blackmailer is to report him to the law and in this case the law is the international community.

rsgz4gg7y2Feb. 01, 2014 - 10:20AM JST If you really want everyone to calm down, you must calm down yourself first. This is the simplest principal everyone understands. Stop your own escalations first. Otherwise, your calls will simply be ignored.

You need to take that to heart, practice what you preach. But, when hypocrisy has taken hold one will always tell others to play nice while they play dirty.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Ok Mr. Sasae, your right. Let`s not dwell on the past too much as it impedes on progress. That being said, stop pretending your nation is perfect and does no wrong. The stubbornness of your politicians does nothing but instigate problems.

-1 ( +6 / -8 )

Does every Japanese PM have to apologise for eternity?

Only if Japanese politicians keep denying Japan's wrongs.

-1 ( +5 / -6 )

joe- why is stating that there are, in fact, over 1000 war criminals enshrined at yasukuni communist propaganda?

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

justicetzFeb. 01, 2014 - 05:52AM JST One thing is certain: the war could have been launched if China is so called democratic country because more than >90% Chinese people support doing that no matter whatever costs.

IF that is true, China deserves to be wiped off the map, and if China does start a war it will be fighting the entire world and a "regime change" won't solve the problem.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

NathawFeb. 02, 2014 - 08:23AM JST Ossan

How about quoting the whole post?

"OssanAmericaFeb. 01, 2014 - 09:55AM JST

justicetzFeb. 01, 2014 - 05:52AM JST One thing is certain: the war could have been launched if China is so called >democratic country because more than >90% Chinese people support doing that no matter whatever costs. IF that is true, China deserves to be wiped off the map, and if China does start a war it will be fighting the entire world and a "regime change" won't solve the problem."

Last I checked 90% of Americans don't support starting a war with anybody.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

So all that remains is for Japan`s leaders to stop visiting Yasukuni shrine, and to sit down and talk about the Diaoyu islands with China

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

This is getting to be like a broken record. Japanese leaders do or say something they know will offend other countries. Then go around saying "Calm down. Be reasonable."

Then they make statements about the past, visit shrines to remember the dead, change history text books, then say "Let's forget about history".

It's like a guy going around slapping people and then saying, "okay, Peace! No more fighting!)

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Strangerland, I agree that China is no longer a communist country. But some people still cling to the old idea that China’s still practicing communism. How many billionaires are there now in China? Money talks over there so how can it be a communist country. It is a free market economy. People are encouraged to make money. People are now free to travel outside the country. There is less and less social assistance from the government. In fact, China is now a capitalist country with a Communist Party in power. It chose not to be a democratic country so that it can grow a lot faster and avoid social crisis in the process. Chinese people have learned to avoid politics and let the government govern and set the future course for the country. It is a Chinese way of managing that huge country and for the past several decades it has been very successful. It is held to be a great model for a lot of countries to follow.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

If you really want everyone to calm down, you must calm down yourself first. This is the simplest principal everyone understands.

Stop your own escalations first. Otherwise, your calls will simply be ignored.

You think you've not been escalating yourself? You think it's all the fault of the other side? Then don't bother calling for calm. Because the other side think exactly the same.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Japan’s ambassador to the United States called for improved relations with China....risk of conflict in East Asia.

Just a little late!

Ambassador Kenichiro Sasae said people are afraid of the consequences....and appealed for a calming of “agitated remarks” from both sides.

But mainly from Japan!

Sasae told a Washington think tank constructive dialogue was needed, but also said Japan would not give in to pressure over its sovereignty claims.

We've heard this before!

U.S. Director of National Intelligence James Clapper told a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing Wednesday on worldwide threats that China will probably continue a “hardline stance” toward Japan over the islands.

Of course, they are NOT going to give up now.

“We have to always remember the history and past, but it’s not productive to only talk about the history and past things, and remembering and agitating the people’s emotions in a negative way. And that’s what I want to avoid,” Sasae said. “So I really hope that this year we could go into a very constructive dialogue with China.”

After everything that has been said and done, Abe should have made these remarks!!! Not some "candy-ass" spokesman.

The immediate prospects aren’t rosy.

Obviously!!!

Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited a controversial war shrine in Tokyo in late December, angering China and even drawing U.S. disapproval. Among the 2.5 million war dead commemorated at the shrine are 14 class A war criminals from World War II.

This is more why Abe doesn't care.

Afterward, China said Abe would not be welcome in China.

Good! He should be run out of Tokyo too.

-4 ( +5 / -10 )

JoeBigs - China isn't even remotely communist.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

over 1000 war criminals enshrined at yasukuni communist propaganda?

It`s fact, not propaganda. On the other hand, the nearby museum, patronised by the nutcases in the black vans IS propaganda. The below link should be useful http://www.pri.org/stories/2013-12-26/why-yasukuni-shrine-so-controversial

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

The shrine is a war memorial that's it, every nation has their own and every nation who has ever fought a war has committed war crimes. The only difference here is that China and the Korea's are using Japan's as poster boys for their nationalist propaganda.

No its not, its a war memorial that enshrines 1000 war criminals, AND has a revisionist museum right next door. Try the below link < http://www.pri.org/stories/2013-12-26/why-yasukuni-shrine-so-controversial>

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

Every Communist Chinese leader visits it regularly where is your outrage for those visits?

Incorrect analogy. The debate of this topic is not about Maos domestic policies during the Great Leap Forward and Cultural Revolution (Tibet being a possible exception - Id comment if there was a relevant thread) but Japan`s expansionist policies and associated war crimes perpetrated against much of Asia and POWs. The lack of remorse shown by Japanese politicians illustrates my point perfectly

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

Ossan

Keep dreaming about the fairy tale of wiping out 1.3 billion people from that earth. General MacArthur tried back in1950 for considering using nuke. it is Herculean task for him for ants tsunami or or human wave from Yalu river. President Truman did not allow him and terminated front line duties.

Let' s try for changing peaceful, calmer and tolerant world. The solution is ripping off off three hateful nations of Japan, US and PRC from that planet. Do not expect entire world will sing marching song for some pieces of rocks. US is the super power and major alliance of Japan. Entire world is not interested in shedding blood which entirely business of US. Syria is one of the shinning example. Entire world is bored with countless WMD and never ending exaggeration.

Even Japan navy alone is modernized enough for handling the conflicts. Philippines and Vietnam are not the entire planet. My homeland Myanmar is shamelessly receiving both Japan and PRC aids. However it will not support either of them morally or militarily. Periods. It is the same story for many SE and South Asia nations. If they have to sign for joining military alliance, they will prefer not receiving any cent from both Japan and PRC. Period!

National pride can not be eaten like food. Entire world has no pride like Japan, US or PRC. Period. Some are free loaders like my homeland. They will be happy and move on if those blood thirsty nations are no longer on that planet. South China Sea and Okinawa will become like new born babies with peace and hope.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

Ossan

I guess US is the major problem of tension and mistrust among the neighbors. That dispute existed for many decades since Abe was a child. If there is no US interference, Japan and PRC will become friendly neighbors like back in 1970s. PRC is more communist back then right now. If Japan and PRC could tolerate each other back then why not they maintain that relationship? If there is no more US interference and back stabbing, South China Sea will be calmer and peaceful. Okinawa will be free as birds.

OssanAmerica Feb. 01, 2014 - 09:55AM JST

IF that is true, China deserves to be wiped off the map, and if China does start a war it will be fighting the entire world and a "regime change" won't solve the problem.

How about US deserves to be wiped off the map, and if US does not start a fabricated war it will be bossing around the entire world and a changing republican or democrat won't solve the problem.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

When Taiwan suggested to Japan to take the case to the International court in 2012, what did Japan do? They ignored the request.

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

Chunky

Thanks for reminding about Japan double standard. If Japan really wanted to settle in ICJ, it should have done within 2112. Besides that Japan fighter jets have been harassing Taiwan commercial airline. However not PRC commercial or military air craft. Japan treatment on PRC is entirely different with PRC.

Forum, politician speeches and bias post will not change the reality of Geo-political climate. Abe has insecurity and frustration about current tension. He may be first J PM who has no opportunity for meeting with leaders of neighbors until end of his term. Everybody needs good neighbor. He should be friendly and tolerate with neighbors.

There is no point for Abe going to Beijing for APEC submit if he is not welcomed. Instead of going there with he should focus on fixing Fukushima mess. Victims from Fukushima are voters too.

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

All these calls for dialogue are due to American pressure. Japan, or at least Abe's government, has no real intention to talk.

What to talk about anyway? About the island dispute? Japan says island is not subject to dialogue since it's Japan's undisputed territory.

About the shrine visit? Even Americans can't get any where with Abe on that.

Talk about the "China threat"? China doesn't think there is such threat.

So there is really nothing to talk about.

-6 ( +3 / -10 )

Strangerland

If you ask Africans, Myanmar, khamar and Latinos, PRC investment, development aids and trade have no string attached. I have never heard that PRC is forcing other nations to follow their principles, ideology and joining their alliance. Another word is PRC is not lecturing and dominating others for reward. Tourism dollar is nothing to do with soft diplomacy. Winning the heart and mind of someone is a delicate task. It should become like cherry blossom with slow and gental nature. Not like volcanic eruption with hateful and inflammable lava.

For example, US tried to condemn PRC human rights in UN for many times.However it was not successful because it has been blocked by third world developing nations( mostly from Africa).

Many from west have looked down to these impoverished and backward nations with superior mentality. For PRC, they are new market and resources supplier. The outcome is western influence is waning. PRC is winning the hearts and minds that people. We can not force someone to believe our way of thinking. At least PRC has got votes from poor and developing nations as moral support. it is the beauty of the art of soft diplomacy.

Many oversea born Chinese desdendants from Yokohama, Taiwan and North America have never been a fan of PRC. One example is American Chinsese Gordon Chang who published the book called as Coming collapse of China. Interestingly Gordon Chang has been old and grey like his book. His prediction of doom and gloom has not come true yet. PRC will not win their heart because of the bad memory of their stupid ideology during 1960s. However that Chinese descendent scan not vote in UN. Their influence is limited.

However PRC has won the investment of Oversea Chinese network. The old way of winning propaganda war for bashing other with exaggeration have been over. It is 21 st century.

-7 ( +1 / -8 )

JApan just roll over.

Roll-over, not exactly. Negotiate a mutually acceptable solution - certainly

-8 ( +1 / -9 )

"Japan’s ambassador to the United States called for improved relations with China on Wednesday as...."

As they continue to stoke the flames and push their neighbours into the current tensions. Nah, a visit to Yasukuni, despite people like the Japanese ambassador ignoring the US suggestions not to visit, doesn't harm relations! Nah, changing the textbooks YET AGAIN doesn't increase tensions. Denying sex-slaves existed? Nah, no harm there. Denying massacres and instead saying Japan should be PROUD of what it did in WWII? nah, nor foul.

You really gotta love how Japanese politicians go out of their way to offend all of their neighbours, then ask for 'calm' and play the victim when it's pointed out that their actions actually have consequences that affect others.

-9 ( +1 / -10 )

Only if Japanese politicians keep denying Japan's wrongs.

Exactly. Its like were saying were sorry but we dont really mean it. We`ll just tell you what you want to hear

-9 ( +1 / -10 )

Sasae told a Washington think tank constructive dialogue was needed, but also said Japan would not give in to pressure over its sovereignty claims.

Well then, Mr Sasae is just wasting his words. Abe cant spit in the face of the rest of Asia by visiting Yasukuni shrine (where 14 war criminals are remembered) and then ask for constructive dialogue. He cant insist there`s no dispute over the Diaoyu islands, while inisting there is one with South Korea, and then ask for dialogue

-10 ( +2 / -12 )

Except that the entire world thinks China is a threat.

I guess I have arrived on another planet. My recent visit to Africa, I felt like I was in the China town of San Francisco and Vancouver. Africans are enjoying the PRC investment, trade and tourism after a few set backs with PRC.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Africa%E2%80%93China_economic_relations

During my trip to South East Asia, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos and Malaysia, everyone said PRC is the engine of their economy and growth. Locals are smiling to every Chinese tourists.

http://www.icaew.com/~/media/Files/About-ICAEW/where-we-are/7189-icaew-sea-q1-2013-web.pdf

Even in Latin America, PRC is the saviours of their weak economy. Many Latino friends said there is no other nation is important to them like PRC. Some from Florida have returned back to their booming homeland. The boom is made by PRC.

http://edition.cnn.com/2012/11/18/business/china-latam-ties/

Australia and New Zeland is enjoying their trade and tourism too. They are celebrating their relationship with beloved nation on that earth.

http://www.australiachinaquarterly.com.au/zh/business-and-politics/item/450-a-long-march-%E2%80%93-the-australia-china-investment-relationship.html

http://www.3news.co.nz/China-becomes-NZs-biggest-trade-partner/tabid/421/articleID/325810/Default.aspx

Overall PRC is the money machine showering others with joys and prosperity. It is very hard for hating that old and ancient civilization with repetitive hateful propaganda. At the end, money talk! Propaganda can not win the hearts and minds of tolerant and friendly people of the world.

-10 ( +1 / -11 )

Any small issues set off China but apparently some people don't get it.

Small issues? Visiting Yasukuni where 1000 war criminals are enshrined, (against the specific advice of Biden) next to a revisionist museum is a small issue?

-10 ( +2 / -12 )

So if your average Japanese chap, lady or school party visit Yasukune it's fine, but as soon as a politician visits they are honouring war criminals?

Who said it was fine if Japanese chap or lady or school party visit Yasukune? The higher positioned politicians should set the example, and they represent Japan as a nation and their national policies. Perhaps that's why they're held to higher standards?

-10 ( +1 / -11 )

.round and round we go.

And it`s usually Japan that starts the next cycle

-11 ( +1 / -12 )

you're living vicariously in the past (and seem to revel in it).

Once upon a time I was a rabid defender of Japan and its role in history, but after years of watching state-sponsored whitewashing of history and denials of any wrong doing I finally woke up. I believe the topic of the discussion is the cause of tension between China and Japan. I put it down to two things, Abe stubbornly visiting Yasukuni shrine, and his refusal to negotiate the status of the Diaoyu islands

-11 ( +1 / -12 )

It may sound silly and insignificant, but if you were Chinese - with 15 to 20 million killed at the hands of the imperial army, or a Korean, with 35 years of colonisation the chances would be higher than you`d be offended by a visit to a shrine that honours war criminals

-12 ( +1 / -13 )

So does that mean that every single person who attends that shrine is honouring those 14?

Actually Its 1000 war criminals in total. The 14 were the class a ones. Its the people who visit the shrine in a political capacity that are the problem

-12 ( +1 / -13 )

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