An outraged Japan said yesterday that China needed to learn better manners after it stood up Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, as relations between the Asian powers worsened over memories of World War II.
Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi (
"They suddenly canceled the schedule but gave no word of apology. It is understandable if they have urgent matters but they should know society just does not function without saying `I'm sorry,'" Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura told a news conference.
Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Taro Aso warned that Wu had caused anti-Chinese sentiment among Japanese people to rise.
"Their manner is totally out of common [diplomatic] practices. It has greatly contributed to fanning anti-Chinese feelings," Aso said.
Education Minister Nariaki Nakayama also joined the Japanese government's unusually strongly worded criticism of its neighbor.
"I thought China was a country that values manners. I am very sorry to think that they must have forgotten such things," Nakayama said.
Meanwhile, the Chinese government said it was upset over remarks Japanese leaders made during Wu's eight-day trip about visits to the Yakusuni Shrine.
"We are very dissatisfied that Japanese leaders have made repeated remarks that are negative for the development of better relations during Madame Wu's visit to Japan, which have deprived such meetings of necessary conditions and atmosphere," Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan (
Koizumi, who has visited the shrine four times since 2001, refused last week to vow not to visit there again this year, repeating his statement that he would decide "appropriately" when to pay homage to Japan's war dead.
"I don't understand why Yasukuni visits are linked to militarism," Koizumi told a parliamentary committee.
"China says [that Japan] should show through its actions that it is reflecting on the war, but in the 60 years since the war Japan has shown it has reflected on the war by ... staying true to its word never to wage war," he added.
China, in comparison, has fought a number of conflicts since 1945, including border wars with India, Vietnam and Russia, as well as fighting alongside the North Koreans during the Korean War.
SEA WARNING LIKELY: The storm, named Gaemi, could become a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, with the Taipei City Government preparing for flooding A tropical depression east of the Philippines developed into a tropical storm named Gaemi at 2pm yesterday, and was moving toward eastern Taiwan, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Gaemi could begin to affect Taiwan proper on Tuesday, lasting until Friday, and could develop into a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, it said. A sea warning for Gaemi could be issued as early as Tuesday morning, it added. Gaemi, the third tropical storm in the Pacific Ocean this typhoon season, is projected to begin moving northwest today, and be closest to Taiwan on Wednesday or Thursday, the agency said. Today, there would likely
CHIPS AND DEFENSE: Trump said the US had lost its chip business and Taipei should pay it for defense, and added that ‘we’re no different than an insurance company’ Taiwan-US relations are solid, and both sides are in agreement that peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region are everyone’s concern, Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) said yesterday following comments by former US president Donald Trump that Taiwan “should pay” for US defense. Taiwan is thankful to the US for supporting Taiwan’s bid to participate in international organizations, Cho told a news conference in Taipei. “I know the people very well, respect them greatly. They did take about 100 percent of our chip business,” Trump told Bloomberg on June 25 in an interview that was published on Tuesday. “I think
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Hsu Wen-erh (許汶而) on Friday became the first Taiwanese to swim solo across the English Channel, saying she was very happy to bring Taiwan to the world. Hsu completed the challenge in 12 hours, 17 minutes and eight seconds, after swimming across the Strait of Gibraltar in October last year. She said she had planned to swim the English Channel in August next year, but seized the opportunity when a vacancy became available on the waiting list. She went to the UK in May to train for a test that involves swimming for six hours at 16°C, which people who want to swim