Editorials

Japanese rightists

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-10-20 07:56

The Japanese government should take measures to rein in confrontational activities over the Diaoyu Islands incident if it wants to improve relations with China. It should understand nationalistic sentiments and right-wing activities might easily push the situation out of control and inflict further damage on bilateral ties.

When hundreds of Japanese right-wing organization members staged a demonstration at the Chinese embassy in Tokyo on Saturday, they dealt another blow to the already strained ties. At the same time, it once again proved that nationalism is an evil force in Japanese society.

Though it is believed right-wing activists by no means represent the mainstream Japanese attitude toward China, it still represents a worrying phenomenon, as the demonstration spotlights the ascendancy of rightist sentiment in Japanese society in recent years. More seriously, it could inflame anti-China sentiments, which are already on the upsurge in Japan.

Such anti-China sentiments will do no good to attempts to reach a peaceful settlement of the ongoing crisis between the two countries; instead they will simply escalate tensions.

Naturally, the right-wing instigated demonstration in Japan aroused grave concern from the Chinese government. In a terse press statement, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu urged Japan to "earnestly fulfill the related obligations laid out in the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and take effective measures to ensure the security of China's embassy, consulates, institutions and personnel in Japan".

It also triggered thousands of Chinese protesters to take to the street in cities including Chengdu, Xi'an and Zhengzhou.

The Sept 7 collision between a Chinese trawler and two Japanese Coast Guard patrol ships happened in the East China Sea off the Diaoyu Islands, which are an inalienable part of Chinese territory according to historical evidence and international law. Japan's territorial claim on the territory is untenable.

Tokyo should understand that Beijing will stand firm on matters that concern territorial integrity. If Japan continues to allow right-wing activities against China to flare up, it will have less room for further diplomacy, which means fewer opportunities to work out appropriate solutions to the ongoing crisis.

China-Japan relations have already suffered since the incident occurred. Social enmity toward the other has increased.

Tokyo should be held solely responsible for this major setback in bilateral ties. It should make wise decisions and show sincerity in preventing any further escalation of tensions.

(China Daily 10/20/2010 page8)