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JAPAN/CHINA: Economically Close, Politically Wide Apart

Analysis by Suvendrini Kakuchi

TOKYO, Apr 17 2007 (IPS) - The smiling photographs of Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe by his side, suggest serious rapprochement during last week’s landmark visit to this country. But the common expression used to define the complex relationship between Asia’s two key players remains the same – ‘economically close, politically wide apart’.

Wen, who became the first Chinese leader to be invited to address the Japanese Diet on Thursday, spoke of a “new stage in our mutually beneficial strategic relationship”. He expressed strong expectations for strengthened economic ties in statements that were highlighted in the Japanese media as long awaited steps in the right direction.

It is not as if Wen, a leading critic of Japan’s reluctance to acknowledge and apologise for its past brutal colonial record in Asia, did not refer to this sour topic while in Tokyo.

But during his visit the Chinese premier took pains to temper animosity with praise for Japan, such as by thanking Japanese leaders for publicly acknowledging the war of aggression and expressing remorse, a stance that won him applause in Japan.

The ‘Asahi’ newspaper commented in an editorial on Apr. 14: ‘’We welcome such a clearly stated positive evaluation of Japan’s past apologies for invading China during the wars as a true landmark occasion.”

Such media opinions sum up the huge sigh of relief in Japan that followed Wen’s important trip when he whizzed across the country playing baseball, planting friendship trees and most of all deepening business ties with his Chinese entourage of economic experts.

The fall out has been impressive. On Monday, for example, close on the heels of Wen’s departure, newspaper polls indicated that Abe had boosted his sagging public support – up to 44 percent compared to 36 percent pre-Wen – a development attributed to the “the thawing of Sino-Japanese relations”.

In other key steps that point to progress is a possible visit by Chinese President Hu Jintao in June, an invitation to the Japanese Emperor to grace the Beijing Olympics in 2008, and a new list of agreements between the two countries on environment and energy, all milestones in bilateral ties.

Experts point out such developments could not have been managed if both sides stuck to national rhetoric that has been the root cause for the freeze under Junichiro Koizumi, Abe’s predecessor who stepped down from office last year.

Koizumi had angered his Asian neighbours when he insisted on paying respects at Japan’s war shrine, Yasukuni, where war criminals responsible for the colonisation of China are interred. China and South Korea refused to have summit meetings with Koizumi for that reason.

The long freeze that followed caused alarm mostly within the Japanese business sector that has invested heavily in China reaping benefits from its cheap labour, huge domestic market and physical proximity.

But, says Prof. Minoru Kitamura, expert on modern Chinese history at Ritsumeikan University, Abe reversed the diplomatic stance when he visited Beijing last October, his first international tour after he took office.

‘’Both sides showed their determination to take the opportunity provided by Abe. There is the thinking that differences in historical perception cannot be solved so they have to be admired for their ability to put aside nationalism when it is necessary,” Kitamura pointed out.

Noted the conservative ‘Yomiuri’ daily on Tuesday: “A desire for domestic stability and concrete benefits are behind China’s moves to spur improvement in the bilateral relationship.” It went on to explain that Wen’s “overall tone was conciliatory” in order to gain economic concessions from Tokyo and also to stop social unrest at home that could threaten his own party’s stability.

Despite the glow that the two leaders are now basking in, the reluctance to discuss serious issues -historical differences and ongoing territorial disputes such as China’s gas prospecting in disputed waters – that divide the two sides remain a dangerous sign say experts.

Gebhard Hielsher, a German analyst in Tokyo, makes the case that the rest of this year carries bitter tests for the two countries’ ability to keep up their newfound good will.

A looming threat is Abe’s position on Japan’s war responsibility. Abe is steering a change in the constitution to allow Japan to play a larger role in Asian security. On his agenda is also a new investigation to show former Chinese and other Asian sex slaves were not coerced by the imperial army.

Yet another problem is Japan’s discontent at China’s growing defence budget -a 17.8 percent hike from last year to 45 billion US dollars. Efforts by Abe, who calls for transparency over such issues as the increase of Chinese naval forces facing Taiwan, have not been heeded by Beijing.

‘’A spate of tensions remain. Sweeping them under the carpet as was done in Tokyo, is not an indication that all is well,” he explained.

Still, experts agree that the ultimate winner in the fresh start for Sino-Japanese relations is the policy of ‘economics first’. ‘’At least we are heading for a new try now. That is most welcome,” insists Kitamura, echoing public sentiment on both sides.