Wang Yi held his first press conference since taking up his
position as Chinese Ambassador to Japan at the Tokyo Journalists’
Club on Monday. He clarified China's policies toward Japan and its
stand on history and Taiwan issues.
Wang said that the crux of the Yasukuni Shrine issue is the
Japanese government's treatment of history. The shrine honors 14
Class-A war criminals who launched and commanded Japan's war of
aggression, many of whom were involved in the invasion of China.
These men committed heinous crimes against the Chinese people, and
also caused the citizens of Japan to suffer as a result of war.
Paying homage to these convicted criminals hurts the victims of
wartime aggression and the visits undermine the political basis of
Sino-Japanese relations. The Chinese people, said Wang, were the
biggest victims of Japan's militarism, and naturally cannot accept
official worship at Yasukuni Shrine.
The issue is not an internal affair of Japan but a serious
diplomatic problem concerning international justice. Both Japan and
China should treat the issue in accordance with the Sino-Japanese
Joint Statement and international conventions.
The Chinese government hopes that Japan's leaders will change
their attitudes and avoid activities that harm the feelings of
Chinese people, showing consideration for Sino-Japanese relations
overall and long-term bilateral interests.
Some Japanese media have made references to “China’s
anti-Japanese education.” Wang Yi pointed out that like other
countries in the world, China provides patriotic education. This is
not anti-Japanese education, he said.
Since the time of Chairman Mao Zedong, any targeting of Japan in
education is to inform people that a few Japanese militarists
should be held responsible for Japan's war of aggression against
China, and that many Japanese were also victims of the war.
Because of education provided concerning China's friendly
relations with Japan, Chinese families raised many Japanese war
orphans and the two countries have normalized their formal
diplomatic relations.
The friendly relationship between China and Japan should be
carried on by all generations, said Wang.
He also discussed China’s gas exploration in the East China Sea,
in an area that is located in the non-disputed economic zone
belonging to China. In consideration of its relations with Japan,
China offered to hold negotiations on East China Sea issues to
enhance the understanding through discussion and seek
solutions.
Both China and Japan have claimed their rights to
200-nautical-mile economic zones, but because the East China Sea is
less than 400 nautical miles wide, the countries' claims
overlap.
According to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, the two
sides should negotiate to find a mutually acceptable solution to
the issue.
Wang said that all factors must be considered in arriving at
such a solution, including geographical considerations.
Although the two sides have not yet reached a mutually agreeable
solution, Wang said that he hopes that both parties will handle
these issues according to the UN Convention on the Law of the
Sea.
(China.org.cn October 20, 2004)