Wen's speech heralds change in China's stance

　　Visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's speech to the Diet on Thursday shows the Chinese stance toward Japan is undergoing a transformation.

　　Two points Wen mentioned in his speech give us much food for thought.

　　The first is historical issues. Wen acknowledged clearly that Japan had apologized for its wartime behavior. "The Japanese government and leaders have expressed their stance on historical issues repeatedly and publicly admitted the nation invaded [China and other Asian countries], and expressed profound remorse and regret to victimized nations," the premier said, adding, "The Chinese government and people appreciate this."

　　The second key point of Wen's speech was Japanese official development assistance to China. Wen spoke generously about the assistance, saying, "Chinese people will never forget it." He said aid from the Japanese government and people had contributed toward "Chinese policies of reform and openness and modernization."

　　As was expected, Wen also made a veiled request to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe not to visit the war-related Yasukuni Shrine. "I hope promises will be kept through [Japan's] concrete actions," he said, referring to previous pledges by Japanese leaders to show remorse.

　　Stepping from Jiang's shadow

　　However, the change in Chinese attitude toward Japan is obvious when compared with that of the government of former President Jiang Zemin. His administration had kept historical issues at the forefront of the relationship.

　　When Jiang visited Japan in 1998, he demonstrated a high-handed attitude in insisting that a joint statement include an expression of "profound regret" for Japan's wartime activities. It was during Jiang's presidency that patriotic, anti-Japanese education in China became so pervasive. This sowed the seeds that eventually triggered the anti-Japanese demonstrations that erupted in China in the spring of 2005.

　　In the three weeks leading up to Wen's visit to Japan, the government-run China Central Television aired programs introducing Japan, including culture and the lifestyles of Japanese, as well as interviews with dignitaries in various fields.

　　Wen's speech in the Diet also was televised live at home. This might be part of China's efforts to step back from excessive anti-Japanese education and quell anti-Japanese sentiment among its people.

　　For the current Chinese regime under President Hu Jintao, ensuring the country successfully hosts the Beijing Olympics next year and Shanghai World Expo in 2010 is essential to shore up the foundation of the administration.

　　Ties set to enter new phase

　　Realizing sustainable economic growth is China's top priority, and cooperation from Japan is indispensible for achieving this objective. This point apparently was reflected in Wen's Diet speech.

　　Expressions of appreciation by top Chinese leaders for Japan's ODA have been very few and far between, even though Japan's ODA has played a significant role in many projects, including infrastructure development projects in China's coastal areas. However, the Chinese people rarely are made aware such assistance comes from Japan.

　　Japan will halt the provision of new yen loans to China just before the Beijing Olympics start next year. This will symbolically usher Japan-China relations into a new phase.

　　Many hurdles lie ahead on the path to building "strategic, mutually beneficial relations" between the two countries. In his Diet speech, Wen said Chinese tradition "places priority on virtue, not on force."

　　We hope China will adhere to such a tradition with actual concrete actions in Japan-China relations.