More to be done

Tensions between the two Asian powers have been ongoing for months. Chinese observers worry that rising right-wing forces in Japan, who orchestrated the "purchase" farce, intend to create more conflicts between China and Japan. They called for more efforts to save the relationship and repair the damage caused by current tensions.

In his briefing, Zhang said China and Japan have maintained close contact on the Diaoyu Islands issue through various channels. On September 25, the two sides held vice foreign ministerial-level consultations over the issue in Beijing. No clear progress has yet emerged from the consultations.

Japanese Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba insisted on October 29 that there is no sovereignty dispute over the Diaoyu Islands. The next day, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei responded that it is "self-deceiving" for Japan to allege that there is no dispute over the islands.

"The situation is not what it once was following Japan's illegal 'purchase' of the islands, which has destroyed an important consensus reached by the older generation of leaders regarding the islands," Hong said. "Japan should not have any illusions in this regard any more," he added, calling on Japan to solve the dispute through negotiations.

Zhou Yongsheng, a professor with China Foreign Affairs University, pointed out that if right-wing forces came into power in Japan, there would be more friction between the two Asian neighbors. "There is but one step from hard-line diplomacy to expansionist diplomacy," Zhou stressed.

Vice Foreign Minister Zhang prompted Japan to stop the current dangerous trend of the Japanese right wing, which plunged Asia into chaos during World War II. Such forces, if not stopped, will become further emboldened and lead Japan further down a dangerous path. If this tendency continues, it is not impossible that the historical tragedy will be repeated and throw Asia and the entire world into turmoil.

Japan has, until this day, remained reluctant to explicitly recognize the nature of its war of aggression. If Japan cannot face up to history, examine its conscience and sincerely correct its mistakes, it will never stand up morally or psychologically no matter how developed its economy is, said Zhang.

Zhang said China has maintained from the start that international disputes should be resolved peacefully through dialogue and negotiations. "China will not create trouble but neither will it fear trouble. We want to live in friendship with all countries including Japan, but we have to uphold our principles and bottom line," he stressed.

While the Chinese Government adopted countermeasures against Japan's "purchase," Chinese people spontaneously organized protests and boycotts of Japanese products throughout the country. "If the actions taken by China exceeded Japan's expectation, it only shows that Japan has from the outset seriously misjudged the situation and underestimated the will and determination of the Chinese Government and people to uphold the territorial sovereignty of our country," Zhang said.

Economic cooperation between China and Japan had long been prosperous in spite of the cold bilateral political relationship. Now the situation has started to change. Jin Baisong, a researcher with the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, pointed out tensions caused by the Diaoyu Islands issue are impacting bilateral trade, as Japan's economy suffered heavily in the wake of September's "purchase."

According to statistics from Japan's Finance Ministry on October 22, Japan's trade deficit from April to September reached 3.219 trillion yen ($40.2 billion), creating a new record since 1979. In September, Japan's exports to China suddenly dropped 14.1 percent. Japan's automobile sales in September decreased 40.8 percent from the same period last year. If the diplomatic friction continues, the Japanese economy will continue to sink and may even plunge into a full contraction.

"Japanese business has gained tremendous profit through bilateral trade and economic cooperation during the past four decades. Now they must play the role of a non-governmental mediator, so as to improve bilateral relations," Jin said.

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