Mr.Niwa Uichiro, Japan's former Ambassador to China, had a distinction in that he was not a professional diplomat. He had a life's career behind him of serving a commercial company. It is very rare in Japan that such a person should be appointed an ambassador, let alone to a leading country like China. His term, however, was only for two years and four months, having been curtailed by his candid criticism of his own government. He has given a long interview to a newspaper. Here are summaries of its several portions.
His trouble started with the Tokyo Metropolitan Governor's announcement that his government would purchase the Senkaku Islands under dispute with China from their private owners. Niwa thought that it would create grievous crisis between the two countries, and openly said so. He thinks that the then Prime Minister should have reprimanded the Governor since it was the central government's job to deal with such a matter. But the PM acted otherwise, and, contrary to Chairman Hu's strong advice which he gave face to face to him, decided to nationalize the islands in September last. Then the protest demonstrations, even arson and looting in China.
Niwa thinks that Japan should admit that the islands are in dispute, and should talk to China on that assumption. They can discuss the areas the two countries could possibly collaborate, such as rescue activities, fishing or resource development.
He has visited 27 of China's first-class administrative units(Provinces, Autonomous Regions and Special Cities) as the Ambassador. On that basis he says that seeing is believing, there are two sides of a coin, and among those Chinese who dislike Japan there is also a feeling of jealousy with the Japanese and the Japanese merchandise, even of respect.
At a press conference he gave shortly before leaving Beijing, end of November, Niwa referred to an opinion in China to the effect that China can now dispense with the Japanese help, and called it "arrogant". He was ready to argue more, but the opinion in the internet was largely in his favour.
Niwa says that in the Chinese criticism of Japan recently the term "Fascism" is sometimes used. He want to ask the Chinese if they know the meaning of the term. If they say so loudly it may provoke the internet opinion.
South Korea, as this writer has written in the previous blog, is going to have a new 5-year administration. China has already decided on her new 5-year team. Japan's new cabinet is going to be set up in a few days. None of them can afford to be short-sighted at this time. If China, for example, continues to neglect the human rights, and to make a fuss about the territorial issue, it will surely disappoint the well-wishers like Mr.Niwa.
His trouble started with the Tokyo Metropolitan Governor's announcement that his government would purchase the Senkaku Islands under dispute with China from their private owners. Niwa thought that it would create grievous crisis between the two countries, and openly said so. He thinks that the then Prime Minister should have reprimanded the Governor since it was the central government's job to deal with such a matter. But the PM acted otherwise, and, contrary to Chairman Hu's strong advice which he gave face to face to him, decided to nationalize the islands in September last. Then the protest demonstrations, even arson and looting in China.
Niwa thinks that Japan should admit that the islands are in dispute, and should talk to China on that assumption. They can discuss the areas the two countries could possibly collaborate, such as rescue activities, fishing or resource development.
He has visited 27 of China's first-class administrative units(Provinces, Autonomous Regions and Special Cities) as the Ambassador. On that basis he says that seeing is believing, there are two sides of a coin, and among those Chinese who dislike Japan there is also a feeling of jealousy with the Japanese and the Japanese merchandise, even of respect.
At a press conference he gave shortly before leaving Beijing, end of November, Niwa referred to an opinion in China to the effect that China can now dispense with the Japanese help, and called it "arrogant". He was ready to argue more, but the opinion in the internet was largely in his favour.
Niwa says that in the Chinese criticism of Japan recently the term "Fascism" is sometimes used. He want to ask the Chinese if they know the meaning of the term. If they say so loudly it may provoke the internet opinion.
South Korea, as this writer has written in the previous blog, is going to have a new 5-year administration. China has already decided on her new 5-year team. Japan's new cabinet is going to be set up in a few days. None of them can afford to be short-sighted at this time. If China, for example, continues to neglect the human rights, and to make a fuss about the territorial issue, it will surely disappoint the well-wishers like Mr.Niwa.
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