Japan's main opposition leader criticized Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's foreign policy for "ignoring Asia" and expressed the belief that Japan itself is to blame for arousing anti-Japan protests in China and South Korea.

The accusation came Wednesday during a parliamentary debate between Koizumi and Katsuya Okada, president of the Democratic Party, the Kyodo news agency reported Thursday.

Japan can find no way out under Koizumi's "ignoring Asia" policy which especially ignores Sino-Japan and South Korea-Japan relations, Okada is reported to have said.

"Japan has become isolated in Asia," the report quoted Okada assaying.

Okada said Koizumi's policy lacks strategy in dealing with South Korea and China at a time when Japan is bidding for permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council, a bidwhich has aroused strong South Korean opposition.

During the parliamentary debate, Koizumi refuted the accusationsaying the Japanese government pays great attention to Asian affairs and has established friendly ties with the rest of the Asian nations.

He said there is a need to take steps on the anti-Japan protests in China and South Korea in order to avoid negatively influencing the development of Sino-Japan and South Korea-Japan relations.

The premier expressed the hope that the Japanese government andthe governments of China and South Korea will start to take measures to maintain and promote bilateral friendly ties and breakout of the current deadlock.

As to Japan's bid for UNSC permanent seat, Koizumi admitted that the issue is difficult. But he also promised that Japan will continue diplomacy with emphasis on Sino-Japan and South Korea-Japan relations and seek the understanding of the two neighboring countries.

Source: Xinhua