CHINA, INTERNATIONAL, OPINION: A Thought On Sino - Japanese Relations
By Vivian Guo
Recently, in both China and Japan, there have been protests and violent actions revealing the personal hostilities that still exists between the two cultures, which has strained the relationship between the two nations. As a result, many normal exchange programs in the fields of education, tourism, culture, economy, etc., have been influenced and even forced to stop or be postponed.
For example, the principal of Tokyo University announced on April 23 that "considering the current situation," Tokyo University would have to postpone the exchange program with Peking University, which originally involved more than 3,000 people. Moreover, according to Japan's National Traffic Department, Japan's tourist industry has suffered significantly due to the sharp decrease of Chinese tourists. They said the number of Chinese tourists visiting Japan reduced by 3% - 5% just during the May Day Holiday.
Inevitably, the business field was also struck. Quite a number of Japanese companies took a second thought when making further movements in the huge market of China--namely, Casio decided to put off the promotion of its new product, the electronic dictionary, which had originally been planned to debut in April in Shanghai, and Kirin also postponed a press conference on its new marketing strategies in China.
Facing these facts, scholars and experts of both countries have voiced their deep worries: "As a Chinese in Japan, I felt very sad after reading those reports," said Yaozhong Duan, president of an overseas Chinese newspaper in Japan.
"I hope that I can do something for the communication between China and Japan," Muxiajunyan, a Japanese professor at Zaodaotian University said. "Anyone who has consciousness, either from China or Japan, should be aware that the relationship between the two nations is strained." He also felt great sympathy for the large number of international students (both Chinese students studying in Japan and the Japanese students studying in China) who have, according to him, the dream of seeing a healthy relationship between the two nations.
Fortunately enough, the governments of both sides have reacted wisely and rationally to the situation, which ensured communication between the two nations at this critical moment. For instance, on April 23, in Indonesia, President Hu of China met the Japanese Prime Minister and they had a talk. Both sides decided to continue and enhance the official talks at high ranks to prevent the relationship from deteriorating further. This would include the ASEM held on May 6 and May 7, in Japan, with the attendance of the heads of both nations' Foreign Affairs Departments; and vice premier Yi Wu meeting the Japanese Prime Minister at the 'China Day of the Loving Knowledge World Expo' held in Japan on May 19.
"“China and Japan, the most important trade partners of each other, have already formed a mutual reliance. Resisting the other side’s products is like resisting oneself," said an authoritative Japanese journalist. Let us take made-in-China DVD players for example. If we are to resist Japanese products, we will have to take all the little parts out of those players and throw them away.
Conversely, many high tech parts in the products of Japanese brands like Sony and Panasonic sold in Japan are actually made in China. Therefore, it is absurd to speak of resisting the other's products in today's situation.
For all the historic misunderstandings and current disputes, we should clearly realize the mutual reliance and take rational action to keep the economies of both nations from being adversely affected.
Inevitably, as rivals in East Asia, China and Japan will have conflicts in the future. However, the friendship between China and Japan built in 1972 is precious, and we cannot let go of it simply because of emotional disputes based on misunderstandings.
Further more, while emphasizing the communication between the two nations, we should also strengthen interpersonal communications between the two peoples. That is to say, if more Chinese and Japanese could make friends with each other, the understanding of each other's culture and way of thinking would be improved while conflicts and disputes would be reduced.
The relationship between China and Japan has come to a critical moment. Every citizen of the two nations should take a stand and contribute to the development of friendship. If for no other reason than the peace and prosperity of their own country.
And of the world.
Recently, in both China and Japan, there have been protests and violent actions revealing the personal hostilities that still exists between the two cultures, which has strained the relationship between the two nations. As a result, many normal exchange programs in the fields of education, tourism, culture, economy, etc., have been influenced and even forced to stop or be postponed.
For example, the principal of Tokyo University announced on April 23 that "considering the current situation," Tokyo University would have to postpone the exchange program with Peking University, which originally involved more than 3,000 people. Moreover, according to Japan's National Traffic Department, Japan's tourist industry has suffered significantly due to the sharp decrease of Chinese tourists. They said the number of Chinese tourists visiting Japan reduced by 3% - 5% just during the May Day Holiday.
Inevitably, the business field was also struck. Quite a number of Japanese companies took a second thought when making further movements in the huge market of China--namely, Casio decided to put off the promotion of its new product, the electronic dictionary, which had originally been planned to debut in April in Shanghai, and Kirin also postponed a press conference on its new marketing strategies in China.
Facing these facts, scholars and experts of both countries have voiced their deep worries: "As a Chinese in Japan, I felt very sad after reading those reports," said Yaozhong Duan, president of an overseas Chinese newspaper in Japan.
"I hope that I can do something for the communication between China and Japan," Muxiajunyan, a Japanese professor at Zaodaotian University said. "Anyone who has consciousness, either from China or Japan, should be aware that the relationship between the two nations is strained." He also felt great sympathy for the large number of international students (both Chinese students studying in Japan and the Japanese students studying in China) who have, according to him, the dream of seeing a healthy relationship between the two nations.
Fortunately enough, the governments of both sides have reacted wisely and rationally to the situation, which ensured communication between the two nations at this critical moment. For instance, on April 23, in Indonesia, President Hu of China met the Japanese Prime Minister and they had a talk. Both sides decided to continue and enhance the official talks at high ranks to prevent the relationship from deteriorating further. This would include the ASEM held on May 6 and May 7, in Japan, with the attendance of the heads of both nations' Foreign Affairs Departments; and vice premier Yi Wu meeting the Japanese Prime Minister at the 'China Day of the Loving Knowledge World Expo' held in Japan on May 19.
"“China and Japan, the most important trade partners of each other, have already formed a mutual reliance. Resisting the other side’s products is like resisting oneself," said an authoritative Japanese journalist. Let us take made-in-China DVD players for example. If we are to resist Japanese products, we will have to take all the little parts out of those players and throw them away.
Conversely, many high tech parts in the products of Japanese brands like Sony and Panasonic sold in Japan are actually made in China. Therefore, it is absurd to speak of resisting the other's products in today's situation.
For all the historic misunderstandings and current disputes, we should clearly realize the mutual reliance and take rational action to keep the economies of both nations from being adversely affected.
Inevitably, as rivals in East Asia, China and Japan will have conflicts in the future. However, the friendship between China and Japan built in 1972 is precious, and we cannot let go of it simply because of emotional disputes based on misunderstandings.
Further more, while emphasizing the communication between the two nations, we should also strengthen interpersonal communications between the two peoples. That is to say, if more Chinese and Japanese could make friends with each other, the understanding of each other's culture and way of thinking would be improved while conflicts and disputes would be reduced.
The relationship between China and Japan has come to a critical moment. Every citizen of the two nations should take a stand and contribute to the development of friendship. If for no other reason than the peace and prosperity of their own country.
And of the world.
7 Comments:
At 11:14 PM , Anonymous said...
"Recently, in BOTH China and Japan, there have been protests and violent actions..."
Uh, for your information the "actions" in Japan were much, much, much less in numbers and violence. They (the protests in Japan)were the result of some stupid, lonely(no girlfriends) assholes in China crying and protesting for no real reason except to look patriotic. Which of course made your Emperor very happy for a few minutes. Japanese seem to be a forward looking group of people. Chinese on the other hand.....
You would (or could) never look in a mirror or be self-critical if your life depended on it would (could) you?
At 10:36 AM , Ellen said...
This is such a poignant and thoughtful article. I so respect your journalistic objectivity and the balance reflected in this post. It was very sad to see on the campus at BFSU, during the anti-Japanese protest demonstrations, the Japanese students sadly sitting off by themselves at the outdoor cafe. In the neighborhood, a hairdressing salon had a sign, in Chinese, that said Japanese were not welcome in there and that they use no Japanese products. That sign is down now and I see the Japanese students intermingling again. It is mainly through the young journalists like you, who think and write with such sensitivity and perspective, that the relationships will be healed. Of all the press, foreign and domestic, that I have read on this issue, your piece, to me, is the most insightful.
At 12:51 PM , Anonymous said...
Come on ELLEN! Put that nose in deeper.
At 1:22 PM , Ellen said...
C'mon, ANONYMOUS. If you've anything substantial to say (as doubtful as that may seem), why don't you identify yourself? As obvious as the answer to that question clearly is, you at least ought to have better manners,even if you can't make a decent point.
I recommend disallowing anonomous posting of comments on WOW. It would probably prevent the kind of urinating up a rope to which the previous commentator stoops.
At 11:30 PM , Anonymous said...
Whatever Ellen. Your first comment reads like a praise from a teacher or best friend. For goodness sakes teach them to be self critical. "Objectivity"???? You are just trying to make them feel better. "Insightful???? There is not really much here that will bring "healing". It reads like you just got off the plane. Get back on and say bye-bye:)
At 9:21 PM , Vivian said...
The purpose of this article is to point out the fact that the relationship between China and Japan is strained and what we should do is find ways to prevent the relationship from deteriorating further so as to create a win-win situation.
It is actually no use arguing which side's protest is stronger.
At 12:06 AM , Anonymous said...
Good point Vivian. Thanks for the article. Very interesting.
Post a Comment
<< Home