Koizumi 'insensitive' to neighbors

Koizumi 'insensitive' to neighbors

Yan Xizao, China Daily, Asia News Network, Beijing

So it looks as if Chinese Vice-Premier Wu Yi's abrupt
cancellation of a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro
Koizumi and her subsequent departure have rather bewildered her
hosts.

In Japan, it seems, the matter is being talked about and
called a breach of etiquette. Our neighbors feel hurt,
apparently.

Frankly, we are rather surprised at their lack of awareness.

Our Ministry of Foreign Affairs has told inquisitive reporters
we are indignant and that we feel the Japanese Prime Minister's
personal remarks on his past and future visits to the
controversial Yasukuni Shrine are intolerable.

Sending an official of Wu's stature to Japan, a country with
whom we have had problem after problem over the years, is a
significant signal that our government is serious about repairing
strained ties.

During her visit, Vice-Primer Wu impressed her hosts with a
combination of diplomacy and business pragmatism. Her proposals
for upgrading bilateral trade were a worthwhile move to maintain
one of the few truly mutually beneficial ties between the two
countries.

She was sent as an envoy of goodwill, a role she played
perfectly well.

She left being considered the opposite.

The unhappy ending is something to lament, and not only by the
Japanese.

Both sides said they want better ties.

In which case, surely it is in the interests of neither side
to cause offense to the other.

It seems the Japanese have set out deliberately to do just
that, despite previous overtures to the tune of building bridges.

As a politician elected to take care of a state of hundreds of
millions, Koizumi knows what Yasukuni means to the Chinese mind.

Even had he not recognized this fact by himself, the Chinese
side has told him and his colleagues clearly and loudly enough
how it hurts and remains a major threat to relations.

We cannot but wonder what was on his mind when he again
reiterated a resolve to go on with his Yasukuni visits and said
neighboring countries who oppose such visits were interfering
with his country's "internal affairs."

We do not care how often Prime Minister Koizumi chooses to eat
his words - we have witnessed him doing it often enough.

By making incorrect remarks during Wu's stay in Japan, Koizumi
showed he was either not in the mood for constructive dialogue,
or had an unrealistic anticipation that his guest would swallow
the embarrassment from his remarks.

It must have been an extremely difficult decision to call
Vice-Premier Wu back when all seemed ready for a meeting that
would otherwise have been the climax of her trip.

That such an order was given indicated Beijing is extremely
unsatisfied with the situation.

If they are still unaware of how important this issue is to
the Chinese, the Japanese Prime Minister and his peers must be
told in clear terms that there is a limit to our patience on
matters of principle, among which is Yasukuni.

There should be no more ambiguity on this, strategic or not.

The recent trouble between China and Japan is testament to the
significance of reciprocity in state-to-state relations.

"One hand alone cannot clap," goes a Chinese saying.

No matter how sincere we are about good neighborly ties, they
will never materialize until our goodwill is responded to with
equal sincerity.