By+Miao+Xiaoyang

territorial disputes， historical problems as well as a lack of mutual trust over the last two years have caused Sino-Japanese relations to sink to their lowest point since the two countries restored their official relationship in 1972. How to emerge from the current impasse was an important question confronting members of the National Committee of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference （CPPCC）， Chinas top political advisory body， during their annual meeting， which was recently concluded in Beijing.

Multiple problems

In an exclusive interview with Beijing Review， CPPCC National Committee member and Chinese Ambassador to J a p a n C h e n g yonghua said that Sino-Japanese relations are currently in the most severe and difficult period since the normaliza- tion of their diplomatic relationship in 1972.

Cheng said， “Japans illegal move of ‘purchasing the Diaoyu Islands in September 2012 and the Japanese prime ministers paying tribute to the controversial war-linked yasukuni Shrine last December hurt the feelings of Chinese people and undermined the foundation of China-Japan relations.”

In addition， Cheng said， Japans right-wing forces have vigorously advocated a so-called“China threat” in recent years， attempting to change Japans military and security policy on that ground.

“The basic principle to develop a sound Sino-Japanese relationship is to follow the four political documents signed by the two countries， including the 1972 Sino-Japanese Joint Statement and the 1978 China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship，” Cheng said. The four documents provide important common understanding and consensus reached by the two countries on properly handling history， the Diaoyu Islands and other prominent issues. “They should be strictly observed，” added Cheng.

During the World Economic Forum held in January in Davos， Switzerland， Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe drew a parallel between the current China-Japan relations and the relationship between Germany and Britain preceding World War I， hinting that China is a threat to Japan.

CPPCC National Committee member Shi Mingde， also Chinas Ambassador to Germany， said，“Germany has taken a very different attitude from Japan toward historical issues. By full examination of its past， Germany won the trust of its neighbors. Japan needs to learn from Germany. Only by making a clean break with its aggressive past and taking history as a mirror can Japan achieve reconciliation with its Asian neighbors.”endprint

“Using history as a mirror and looking forward into the future are the basic principle for developing a healthy China-Japan relationship，” said Cheng. “In recent years， Japan has attempted to dilute its history education.

Modern history is almost ignored in Japans junior and senior middle school education. Most schools only teach students Japanese history before the 1868 Meiji Restoration. Japanese right-wing forces even deny and whitewash Japans war crimes.”

In February， Chinas top legislature ratified September 3 as victory Day of the Chinese Peoples War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and December 13 as the memorial day for remembering the victims of the Nanjing Massacre， in which Japanese aggressors killed more than 300，000 Chinese people.

CPPCC National Committee member and President of China International Publishing Group Zhou Mingwei said the designating of the two new national days by law is an effort by the Chinese people to safeguard the victory of World War II and the postwar international

order. It aims to encourage Chinese people to remember their history as well as to tell the world that Chinese people will use a peaceful approach to reach their goals.

“To remember history is not to nurse hatred but to use it as a mirror to look forward，”Ambassador Cheng said. “I hope Japan can face up to history and show sincerity in its desire to hold pragmatic talks with China on related issues， bringing Sino-Japanese relations back on a healthy， stable as well as mutual beneficiary track with joint efforts.”

Complicated relations

A China-Japan joint public opinion poll released by China Daily and Japans Genron NPO in 2013 showed that more than 90 percent of respondents from each country replied they have unfavorable impressions of each other. But on the other hand， more than 70 percent of respondents from both countries hope the two countries could improve bilateral relations.

Zhou addressed the matter by noting， “One of the current plights of SinoJapanese relations is the loss of mutual trust between the people of the two countries， which is also what concerns me the most. The emotional response of the two peoples when concerning major bilateral problems will affect the policies of the two governments and bilateral relations.”

“Sino-Japanese relations are very complicated，” Zhou said. “Thus， we should avoid handling these relations simplistically or emotionally. We should not indiscriminately regard Japan as a rival， mistreat the Japanese people or boycott Japanese products. It does not contribute to the settlement of bilateral disputes.”endprint

Zhou stressed strictly separating and treating differently ordinary Japanese people from Japanese right-wing forces when concerning the disputes.

“Like us， most Japanese people want peace and improved relations with neighboring countries including China，” said Cheng. He added that with regard to the war， most Japanese people have painful memories. They also hope that there will be no such cruel wars in the future and that history will not be repeated. Many of them have reflected deeply on history and the war， and do not support their political leaders visits to the yasukuni Shrine， which honors fallen Japanese soldiers alongside several high-level officials executed for war crimes after World War II.

“Even as the current Sino-Japanese relations have reached a freezing point， people-to-people exchange between the two countries should not be intermitted. We should employ the positive effect of people-to-people diplomacy to improve the deteriorated SinoJapanese bilateral relationship，” said Li Xiaolin， CPPCC National Committee m e m b e r a n d President of the Chinese Peoples Association for Friendship With Foreign Countries（CPAFFC）.

“People-to-people diplomacy and promoting official relations through people-topeople exchange are unique traditions of the Sino-Japanese relationship，” said Cheng. Cheng recalled that after the founding of the Peoples Republic of China in 1949， though the two countries didnt establish an official relationship immediately， people-to-people exchange between the two warmed up swiftly， which laid a solid foundation of public opinion for the eventual normalization of bilateral official relations.

“Now we should revitalize and further consolidate the role of people-to-people diplomacy in promoting Sino-Japanese relations，” said Cheng.

Li said that the CPAFFC is preparing to invite more peace-loving Japanese parliamentarians to visit China to deepen mutual understanding. “We need to encourage more peace-loving Japanese people to express their opinions and jointly safeguard the victory of World War II and the postwar international order，” said Li. “Non-governmental organizations for bilateral friendship from both countries should cooperate much more closely to get Sino-Japanese relations back on the right track of mutual benefit.”endprint