Japanese Prime Minister Juniciro Koizumi does put Japan-China relations "high" on his 2006 agenda. Like before, he was again spearheading the attack on China, saying "I cannot understand why a foreign government should intervene in a matter of the heart and make it a diplomatic issue."

He was openly defending his repeated visits to the Yasukuni shrine, a symbol of Tokyo's past militarism, and Koizumi's remarks drew a swift reaction from Chinese experts on Japanese issues and many netizens, who denounced Koizumi's argument as "untenable".

At a televised press conference on Wednesday, Koizumi defended his visits to the notorious shrine, saying again that it is "a spiritual issue".

Koizumi reiterated his view that the visits were a matter of an individual's freedom of spirit and thought, making it hard to understand criticism from China and the Republic of Korea (ROK).

Yao Wenli, a researcher with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, called Koizumi's remarks "substantial damage" to the foundation of Sino-Japanese ties, noting that the remarks once again hurt the feelings of the Chinese and people of other Asian countries.

"The prime minister tries to shirk responsibility and shift the blame onto others. However, as anybody can tell, it's groundless sophistry", Yao stressed.

When asked to comment on Koizumi's remarks, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said Thursday that China hopes Japan will properly handle issues concerning the political basis of bilateral ties, consider Chinese people's feelings, and create the conditions for an improvement of Sino-Japanese ties.

"The current difficult situation in Sino-Japanese relations was not caused by China," Qin said, hoping the Japanese side would realize this.

ROK Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon also urged Koizumi to listen attentively to the voice of other countries and acknowledge modern history.

"On the history issue, the Japanese government should make efforts to obtain trust and respect from other countries," said Ban.

Since taking office in April 2001, Koizumi has visited five times the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, which honors over two million Japanese war dead including 14 top war criminals responsible for Japan's aggression against its Asian neighbors in World War II.

Liu Jiangyong, a professor with elite Qinghua University, interpreted Koizumi's remark as an early signal of his possible revisit to the Yasukuni Shrine before he left his office this September.

Another important message that Koizumi has tried to convey in his remarks, as the Chinese expert interpreted, is that he hopes his successor could continue the foreign policy he made during his terms.

"Such policy and arrangement should be paid enough attention," Liu warned.

Ma Junwei, a researcher with the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, also showed his pessimism to the improvement of Sino-Japanese relations in 2006.

"There is slim chance for China and Japan to improve political ties during Koizumi's term," Ma said.

"Despite his oral willingness to improve bilateral ties, Koizumi shows no sincerity to do so in his real actions", Ma said.

Sino-Japanese relations are undergoing a "difficult" and "delicate" period, Liu said, explaining that Koizumi intends to create some "favorable" domestic conditions for the amendment of the Japanese constitution by advocating a "China threat".

"On the other hand, some Japanese political power donors do not want to see China play a bigger and more vital role than Japan does in east Asia," Liu said.

Japan's general public, press as well as business circles have also voiced concern over their premier's visits to the shrine. On Thursday, a Japanese business federation leader called on the Japanese government to review its Asian diplomacy and improve the relationship with China.

Recently, the death of Japanese veteran Shiro Azuma aroused sympathy among the Chinese people.

The former soldier, whose diary discloses Japan's wartime atrocities in China, won understanding and respect from the Chinese people and is remembered as a friend who upheld justice and bravely confessed to the wartime crimes of himself and his country.

"He who holds a correct attitude towards history will be understood and respected by the Chinese," a netizen said on the website sina.com.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said earlier that China's stance on developing good-neighborly relations with Japan is "consistent" and "clear". China and Japan should go on enhancing exchanges and cooperation, he said.

Source: Xinhua