Time for Japan to rethink home policy

Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan named Takeaki Matsumoto as foreign minister on Wednesday after Seiji Maehara stepped down for receiving a campaign donation illegally. On Monday, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said that he would maintain good working relations with the next Japanese foreign minister no matter who is named for the post.

Yang's remarks highlight the importance of China-Japan relations. As he emphasized, "pursuing a sound Sino-Japanese relationship is a wise choice for both sides".

Hence, it was disappointing to see Japan lodge a formal protest earlier this week after a Chinese helicopter flew by Diaoyu Islands, which is an undisputable part of China's territory. China and Japan both should properly handle this sensitive issue. But it is especially important for Japanese politicians to prevent another row over the Diaoyu Islands.