The anti-Japanese "weekend demonstrations" going on major Chinese cities have gone on how for three weeks. Over the past weekend Shanghai, considered the country's economic capital, there was the largest demonstration by citizens and students since the Cultural Revolution. There were instances of violence with people throwing rocks and bricks at the Japanese consulate and attacks on Japanese businesses. The start of next month marks the 86th anniversary of the May Fourth Movement, and the demonstrations are expected to spread.
It is not desirable to have violence at demonstrations related to a problem that has arisen between countries, because it excites ethnic sentiments and makes finding a rational solution difficult. Chinese diplomatic missions in Japan are already receiving threats. If, as Japan alleges, the Chinese authorities are allowing and encouraging the violent demonstrations, that would be out of step with international norms.
Japan's mistaken behavior is what is at the center of the issue, however, and so Japan has a responsibility to actively work to keep the situation from worsening. The anti-Japanese demonstrations first began immediately after the Japanese education ministry gave official approval to textbooks glorifying Japan's past aggression. That, added with outrageous comments from members of that country's leadership, and the demonstrations started spreading. Japan's effort to join the United Nations Security Council with a permanent seat and its failure to recognize the wrongs in its past are in such contrast, and that has angered people in neighboring countries. Ultimately the main cause of the demonstrations is Japan itself.
Maybe the rightists who are leading the Japanese government and political landscape might need to incite conflict with neighboring countries in order to push ahead with rearmament and amending Japan's "peace constitution." If that is not the case, they need to change their attitude towards issues such as textbooks and visits to Yasukuni Shrine.
The Hankyoreh, 18 April 2005.
[Translations by Seoul Selection (PMS)]
[Editorial] Japan and China's Anti-Japanese Demonstrations |
