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China must fulfill its intl responsibilities
Japan is finally standing at the doorstep of building "a strategic, mutually beneficial relationship" with China, a nation that is going from strength to strength, economically and militarily.
During their talks in Beijing on Friday, Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda agreed with Chinese President Hu Jintao, Premier Wen Jiabao and other Chinese leaders to make the year 2008 "a year in which Japan-China relations take a leap forward."
Making such a jump will require the two countries to work on specific steps that offer mutual benefits. But the reality is that, at the moment, the leaders have only spoken about such goals.
The issue of gas field exploration in the East China Sea epitomizes this situation. Specific measures for jointly developing these fields had been scheduled to be reported to the two countries' leaders in autumn this year.
However, Friday's talks gave no suggestion that this issue was close to being settled. At a press conference, Fukuda said he and Wen "shared a firm resolve" to find an early solution to the issue. However, the prime minister failed to show any specific steps that would help untangle this issue sooner rather than later.
Securing control over energy resources is a maritime strategy inextricably linked to this country's national security.
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Easier said than done
The fact that Tokyo and Beijing have had such trouble reaching agreement on an issue that impinges on national interests exemplifies the difficulties of building a mutually beneficial relationship.
By the time Hu visits Japan in spring, the two countries must come up with ideas--including pinpointing areas for joint exploration projects--that will bring about an early resolution of the issue.
Climate change will be a key topic on the agenda at the summit meeting of the Group of Eight advanced countries to be held in Hokkaido in July.
According to some reports, China's sizzling economic growth has made it the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases, eclipsing the United States. However, China is reluctant to accept mandatory emissions reductions, despite its calls for developed countries to cut their greenhouse gas emissions.
The prime minister reportedly told Wen that both Japan and China have responsibilities to the global community. This was a veiled call on China to fulfill its responsibilities as a major power.
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Climate, history issues
During the press conference, Wen promised that China would "actively participate in negotiations in a responsible manner and implement various steps earnestly," in reference to the post-Kyoto Protocol framework. We think China should commit itself to joining the post-Kyoto Protocol framework for greenhouse gas reductions to fulfill this international responsibility.
Wen also touched on the history issue. "Matters of our bilateral history and Taiwan must be dealt with correctly to enhance the two countries' political foundations," he said. This comment illustrates that as far as China is concerned, the history issue has not faded away and that Beijing wants to wait and see how Japan will handle the issue.
The history issue had chilled Japan-China relations in recent years. The government must not make the foolish mistake of allowing the issue to become a festering diplomatic sore again. China, for its part, must change its attitude of pressing its unilateral historical views on Japan.
Japan and China have a responsibility to ensure the peace and stability of the Asia region. However, China's opaque military buildup continues unabated, a policy that runs counter to this task. Japan must employ mid- and long-term diplomatic strategies toward China that protect its own national interests.
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 29, 2007)
(Dec. 29, 2007)
China currently can't solve itself problems, how can let China fulfill its intl responsibilities ???we aren't U.S and some west countries, we can't do this !
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