Respect core interests

Although China and Japan are supposed to commemorate the 40th anniversary of their diplomatic relations this year, there seems little to cheer as Japan continues to test China's patience with its antics.

And, if Tokyo governor Shintaro Ishihara and other Japanese officials persist with their ridiculous plan to "purchase" the Diaoyu Islands, the issue is likely to spiral out of their control, jeopardizing the progress that has been made so far.

Ishihara is a serial China-baiter and in his latest provocation he announced plans to raise money from the Japanese public to purchase three of China's Diaoyu Islands from "private Japanese owners".

Two Japanese lawmakers are expected to visit China's Diaoyu Islands on June 10, in preparation for a House of Representatives' hearing on June 11.

But Japan should understand that China will not allow its core interests such as the Diaoyu Islands to be violated.

"Sea of peace, cooperation and friendship" has been the phrase used by Japan and China to foster a mutually beneficial strategic relationship and the past four decades have witnessed remarkable progress in their relations.

But as early as 2002 the Japanese government leased the Diaoyu Islands from the "owners", in a bid to make it easier for the government to regulate Japanese people's landing on the islets without permission and the "illegal landings by foreigners".

The Japanese government bears the responsibility to see that such antics do not become wrecking balls and should pull its weight to ensure that the bilateral relations stay on a steady course of progress.

The actions of Ishihara and some other Japanese officials have built barriers for the advancement of China-Japan relations. As a result, some of the exchanges between high-ranking officials of the two countries have been canceled.

Smooth bilateral relations require efforts from both sides. Both countries need to understand and accommodate each other's core interests.

The integrity of its territory is China's bottom line and one that it will never allow any country to breach. Japan should respect this.

(China Daily 06/08/2012 page8)