China Perspective

High hopes for Japan's new FM

By Cheng Guangjin (China Daily)
Updated: 2011-03-12 11:59

BEIJING - Sino-Japanese relations will stand in a new light with Japan's new Foreign Minister Takeaki Matsumoto, who is likely to handle relations with China in a positive and prudent way, unlike his predecessor, analysts said.

During a phone call on Thursday with his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi, Matsumoto agreed to work toward improving ties ahead of the 40th anniversary of the 1972 peace treaty, the Associated Press reported.

Matsumoto was promoted from foreign secretary to foreign minister on Wednesday after Seiji Maehara resigned on Sunday over an illegal campaign donation.

Unlike Maehara - whose "hard-liner" image, left an indelible impression, despite his softened stance later - Matsumoto has no "criminal record" and is more acceptable to the Chinese people, Yang Bojiang, a professor at China's University of International Relations, told China Daily.

"Though Japan's foreign policy on China is unlikely to change, the personnel change is important and good news for bilateral relations," Yang said.

During a meeting with reporters on Thursday, Matsumoto pledged to reset strained ties with China and resolve diplomatic spats, The Associated Press said.

While he sought to strike a conciliatory note, Matsumoto also renewed concerns about military and maritime activity in the region, according to the AP.

"Our geographical proximity has made our relations important, but also posed problems.

"It is important to establish a solid partnership so that we can resolve issues one by one," he said.

Matsumoto, a former banker and a descendant of Japan's first prime minister, Hirofumi Ito, was the policy chief in the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) when it was still an opposition party.

"Matsumoto will handle Sino-Japanese relations in a positive and prudent way," Yang said, compared with Maehara, who described China's response to the maritime collision near the Diaoyu Islands in September as being "hysterical".

Facing a long list of diplomatic challenges, Matsumoto will make his diplomatic debut as foreign minister at a G8 ministerial meeting in Paris from March 14 to 15, followed by a meeting with his counterparts from China and South Korea on March 19 and 20.

On Japanese-US relations, which lately have been rattled by senior US officials' reportedly derogatory remarks about Okinawans, Matsumoto said that the comments "clearly have a negative impact" on residents' sentiments.

"We have no choice but to maintain dialogue and make efforts to minimize damage to and boost confidence in" the Japanese-US relationship, Matsumoto said during the meeting with reporters .

He plans to visit Okinawa to talk with residents about a controversial US base relocation plan, which has been a headache for Japan-US relations.

Japan's ties with its biggest security ally were damaged after the DPJ came to power in 2009 and then-Premier Yukio Hatoyama tried to keep a campaign pledge to move a US airbase off the southern island of Okinawa.

"Japan has returned to pro-US diplomacy since Prime Minister Naoto Kan took office last year," said Yang, "and that will not change with the new foreign minister", who was appointed to maintain consistency in Japan's foreign policy, analysts said.

On South Korea, the new minister said he is ready to explain Japan's history textbook screening procedures when the outcome of the education ministry's new review is released in the spring.

Matsumoto's blood ties to Hirobumi Ito, Korea's first Japanese governor-general, who led his country's forced occupation of the peninsula, is also considered a delicate issue, according to the Korea Herald.

In a phone call on Thursday to his South Korean counterpart Kim Sung-hwan, Matsumoto "promised to work closely with South Korea in developing bilateral relations".

Yang said such worries are unnecessary as personal issues will not affect the current practical bilateral cooperation.

"It is worth watching whether Japan and South Korea will grow closer, as the joint military exercises with the US have indicated," Yang said. "But this will not happen soon, considering the past of the two countries."

Japan's ties with Russia were also strained after Russian President Dmitry Medvedev visited an island in 2010 that is claimed by both countries.

Matsumoto said he would work toward resolving the decades-old territorial dispute with Russia to conclude a post-World War II peace treaty, officially ending hostilities between the two countries.