An NPO in Japan and an English newspaper in China recently conducted a joint opinion poll on the mutual images of the Japanese and the Chinese peoples. The results were out on 20 June.
Here are some of their characteristics.
In the eyes of the Japanese, the most difficult problem on the Chinese side that is blocking the way toward better relations between the two is the territorial question. True, China has got a territorial issue with other countries also. But in the Sino-Japanese context it must be, in our pronunciation, the Senkaku islands, which China started claiming about 40 years ago. This is really a thorn in our relations with China.
Moreover, it is not over a piece of territory alone. Most of the people of Japan know that behind the claim by China is a vast natural resources at stake which is still untouched by either country. It is therefore a resource issue as well.
This would explain why an overwhelming majority of the Japanese, 84.3%, have got a bad image of China, the highest ever, and more than half of them think that the Chinese are too self-centred on the resources and energy. Recently China, who exports 97% of the total world figure of "rare earth", has put a restriction on its export for reasons of resource conservation. It may hit Japan sooner or later. When the ordinary Japanese think of the resources and energy problem between the two they are bound to input this also into their consideration. In my view, however, this 'resources and energy' is more closely connected with the above territorial issue.
What is the Chinese figure for the above 84.3? It is 64.5, still quite high but considerably lower than the former. It is remarkable for a country which is under an all-powerful dictatorial government.
Another related figure is that 21.3% on the Chinese side are of the opinion that the nationalism and anti-Japanese behaviour of the Chinese are a blockade toward better relations.
Would it be correct to say that those are an indication that a civil society is growing in China, and at least a considerable portion of the people are critically responding to the official jargon? If so it would mean a great deal to all the people concerned, not simply the Japanese. Of course we have our own responsibility.
Here are some of their characteristics.
In the eyes of the Japanese, the most difficult problem on the Chinese side that is blocking the way toward better relations between the two is the territorial question. True, China has got a territorial issue with other countries also. But in the Sino-Japanese context it must be, in our pronunciation, the Senkaku islands, which China started claiming about 40 years ago. This is really a thorn in our relations with China.
Moreover, it is not over a piece of territory alone. Most of the people of Japan know that behind the claim by China is a vast natural resources at stake which is still untouched by either country. It is therefore a resource issue as well.
This would explain why an overwhelming majority of the Japanese, 84.3%, have got a bad image of China, the highest ever, and more than half of them think that the Chinese are too self-centred on the resources and energy. Recently China, who exports 97% of the total world figure of "rare earth", has put a restriction on its export for reasons of resource conservation. It may hit Japan sooner or later. When the ordinary Japanese think of the resources and energy problem between the two they are bound to input this also into their consideration. In my view, however, this 'resources and energy' is more closely connected with the above territorial issue.
What is the Chinese figure for the above 84.3? It is 64.5, still quite high but considerably lower than the former. It is remarkable for a country which is under an all-powerful dictatorial government.
Another related figure is that 21.3% on the Chinese side are of the opinion that the nationalism and anti-Japanese behaviour of the Chinese are a blockade toward better relations.
Would it be correct to say that those are an indication that a civil society is growing in China, and at least a considerable portion of the people are critically responding to the official jargon? If so it would mean a great deal to all the people concerned, not simply the Japanese. Of course we have our own responsibility.
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