Japan Against an “Independent Taiwan”

China and Japan exchanged concessions for long-pending troubles between the two countries, such as the Taiwan issue and East China Sea oil field development.

Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao made the announcement in a joint press conference after a two-and-a-half hour meeting held in the People’s Assembly Hall in Beijing on December 28.

The two prime ministers said in the press conference that they agreed to elevate their negotiation delegation currently led by director–level and deputy minister-level officials in order to resolve the problem of East China Sea oil field development soon.

Fukuda was quoted by the Xinhua News Agency as saying in the meeting, “Japan never endorses ‘two Chinas’ or ‘one China and one Taiwan.’ Japan does not support Taiwan’s independence and its UN membership, and any referendum on UN membership.”

Fukuda also said, “With respect to Taiwan, Japan maintains its position expressed in the 1972 Japan-China joint communiqué, which established diplomatic relations between the two, that the People’s Republic of China is the only legitimate government,” the Xinhua News Agency reported.

Premier Wen reportedly stressed the need to “strengthen cooperation between the two countries in areas of energy, environmental protection, finance, high technology, knowledge and information communication, and the protection of intellectual property rights.” Wen also emphasized the need to expand youth exchange programs between the two, and to increase dialogue on defense and security.

The prime ministers agreed that Chinese President Hu Jintao would make a state visit to Japan next spring when cherry blossoms are flowering in Japan. The time when cherry blossom flowers bloom differs by region in Japan, but in Tokyo, cherry blossoms are in full bloom in April.

Fukuda and Wen reportedly reached an agreement regarding North Korean nuclear issues and Japanese abductees by North Korea. Yet no details have been disclosed.

After the meeting with Wen, in a talk given at an auditorium of Beijing University, Fukuda said, “The tree pillars that hold out strategic reciprocal relations between Japan and China are mutual cooperation, contributions to the international community, and mutual understanding and trust.” He then suggested, “Based on mutual understanding and trust, Japan and China cooperate for the bright future of Asia and the world.”

Fukuda’s talk was live broadcast nationwide by China Central Television. It is very rare in China that CCTV broadcast live a foreign leader’s talk. During his 50-minute talk Fukuda received nine rounds of rousing applause.

The Japanese prime minister also had a meeting with Wu Bangguo, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, and had a state dinner with Hu Jintao in the People’s Assembly Hall.

The Japanese Foreign Ministry said that it was the first time that a Chinese top leader held a state dinner for a Japanese prime minister since 1986 when Hu Yaobang, then General Secretary of Communist Party of China, did so for then Japanese Prime Minister Nakasone Yasuhiro.

orionha@donga.com