Posted on 05/11/2005 7:35:08 AM PDT by T. P. Pole
TOKYO - After first scoffing at requests to pay for damage to Japan's Embassy and consulates from recent anti-Japanese riots, China has quietly reversed course and promised to restore the buildings to their previous condition, a Japanese official said Wednesday.
Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing assured Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Ichiro Aisawa in Beijing that the damaged buildings would be restored, said Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroyuki Hosoda.
"China is saying that it will repair (the damage), and I think it's a big step forward," Hosoda told reporters.
Hosoda said that Li offered to fix damage to the Japanese Embassy and the ambassador's residence in Beijing and Japan's consulate in Shanghai. He said the details of the compensation would be worked out in subsequent meetings.
Chinese police stood by as protesters throw rocks and broke windows at the embassy and consulate during three weekends of demonstrations touched off by a new Japanese school textbook said to downplay wartime atrocities. Also at issue were modern rivalries over a bid by Japan to join the U.N. Security Council and a dispute over gas drilling in the East China sea also.
Li had earlier rejected a Japanese demand for compensation and an apology over the damage to the embassy, telling Japan's visiting foreign minister last month that China had never harmed his people — a roundabout reminder to Japan how badly the Chinese suffered at the hands of the Japanese military during World War II.
But after weeks of acrimony, the Chinese government has ordered an end to protests and taken steps to repair relations with Japan, an important trading partner and aid donor. The two sides agreed last weekend to resume talks this month on the sea dispute and to set up a joint panel to study history aimed at ironing out their differences by the end of the year.
Since Japan is strengthening its military cooperation with the US, China will most likely bug the embassy to try to learn more about our activities.
My first thought, too.
100 bucks says we US taxpayers are paying for it.
Bet we offered to help sow the rift by funding the repairs so the two sides would meet.
Beware of "friends" bearing gifts.
No doubt. I hope Japan realizes that and makes sure there are no bugs.
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