Japanese rightists

The Japanese government should take measures to rein in confrontational activities over the Diaoyu Islands incident if it wants to improve relations with China. It should understand nationalistic sentiments and right-wing activities might easily push the situation out of control and inflict further damage on bilateral ties.

When hundreds of Japanese right-wing organization members staged a demonstration at the Chinese embassy in Tokyo on Saturday, they dealt another blow to the already strained ties. At the same time, it once again proved that nationalism is an evil force in Japanese society.

Though it is believed right-wing activists by no means represent the mainstream Japanese attitude toward China, it still represents a worrying phenomenon, as the demonstration spotlights the ascendancy of rightist sentiment in Japanese society in recent years. More seriously, it could inflame anti-China sentiments, which are already on the upsurge in Japan.