Posted on 04/19/2008 9:02:22 AM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
Tibet an 'international issue,' Japan PM tells China
AFP[Saturday, April 19, 2008 12:50]
 Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi (L) talks with Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda during a meeting held at the premier's office in Tokyo. Fukuda bluntly told China Friday that Tibetan unrest had become an international issue, contradicting Beijing's official line, and hinted it could hit the Olympics. (AFP/POOL/Dai Kurokawa) |
TOKYO, April 18 - Japan's Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda bluntly told China Friday that Tibetan unrest had become an international issue, contradicting Beijing's official line, and hinted it could hit the Olympics.
Yasuo Fukuda made the remarks to visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, who is paving the way for President Hu Jintao's much-anticipated trip here next month.
"Prime Minister Fukuda stated that there was a need to face up to the reality that the matter has become an international issue and that it should not affect the Olympics," a foreign ministry statement said.
"It is desired that the Chinese side does all it can to solve the matter," it quoted Fukuda as saying.
China has repeatedly countered criticism of its crackdown in the Himalayan region by saying its handling of protests last month was strictly an internal matter.
Exiled Tibetan leaders say China's clampdown left more than 150 dead, while Beijing says "rioters" killed 20.
The incident has overshadowed China's hosting of the Beijing Olympics in August, with protests marring international legs of the ceremonial torch relay.
On Friday, a Japanese temple pulled out of a hosting ceremony for the flame during its visit to Nagano, host of the 1998 Winter Olympics.
The United States declined to its ally's warning, but said it wants conditions in Tibet to improve.
"I don't think we try to characterise it as a national issue or an international issue. I don't think that's the point of it," White House spokesman Tony Fratto told reporters.
"The point of it is that there are lots of places in the world where we have an interest in the human rights of the citizens who live there, and we express our interest and our concern in all of those places. And we want to see the conditions improve."
Yang, who had described Tibet as a "domestic issue" on Friday, reiterated Beijing's position that the Dalai Lama, the region's exiled spiritual leader, was responsible for the deadly unrest.
"If the Dalai's side stops splittist activities, violent activities and activities to sabotage the Olympics, the door for dialogue is open," Yang told Fukuda, according to the statement.
Yang's four-day visit is mainly aimed at preparing for Hu's trip scheduled for May 6-10, the first in a decade by a Chinese head of state.
Although relations between Tokyo and Beijing have warmed recently, ties have been strained by a health scare here over Chinese-made dumplings and an ongoing dispute over lucrative drilling rights to gas fields in the East China Sea.
Fukuda, who took office in September, has sought friendly ties with China, which refused high-level contacts during the 2001-2006 premiership of Junichiro Koizumi due to his visits to a controversial war shrine.
Fukuda told Yang that "both sides need to make efforts to overcome various (bilateral) problems," the statement said.
"China would like to build a framework with Japan through the visit (by Hu) so that the two countries will prosper in the long term," Yang told reporters.
"I showed my appreciation to Prime Minister Fukuda as he said he supported a successful Olympics in China," he said.
During his visit to China in December, Fukuda agreed with Hu to seek a resolution on the gas dispute at an early date, although no major breakthrough has yet been made.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura, Fukuda's number two, said he had expressed Japanese concerns over the safety of Chinese food in his talks with Yang.
So-called globalization ended up putting lots of U.S. politicians and businessmen in China's pocket.
Ping!
“China has repeatedly countered criticism of its crackdown in the Himalayan region by saying its handling of protests last month was strictly an internal matter.”
Someone please refresh my memory; isn’t that a bit like what Germany said after they annexed the Sudetenland and then occupied Czechoslovakia...?
As to your point about the U.S. applying gaiatsu, I agree that we should think a bit more trying to keep relationships smooth.
The silliest instance that I can remember from the Bush administration was the absurd tendency to bring up the American beef issue in every possible context. That's a very small matter compared to our overall relationship with Japan, but President Bush and Secretary of State Rice both brought it up at times when it was completely out of place in my opinion. I think that type of trivial matter should be left to our trade delegations to work out, and then once we have an understanding, it would be appropriate to note the success by senior people.
Body language — Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda has some of that samurai look going for him.
Yang, who had described Tibet as a "domestic issue" on Friday, reiterated Beijing's position that the Dalai Lama, the region's exiled spiritual leader, was responsible for the deadly unrest.
"If the Dalai's side stops splittist activities, violent activities and activities to sabotage the Olympics, the door for dialogue is open," Yang told Fukuda, according to the statement.
The Hu Jintao clique thinks it can escape responsibility for its actions by blaming the Dalai Lama.
Chinese Regime Implicated in Staging Violence in Lhasa—UPDATED
Totally unexpected, but his motorcade went RIGHT BY ME yesterday morning local time here in Japan.
I knew it was him because of the #9101 blue Japanese diplomatic license plate on the front of his blackened-out-windowed limousine and of course the many legions of Japanese police and helicopters overhead--all looked extremely nervous.
I should have flipped him off while I was at it as a welcome greeting to Japan, but that motorcade passed by so quickly. Mr. Big Shot Commie's car is captured on my cell phone, though.
Now THAT would have been a good "international Freep" on behalf of Tibet and Freedom. Sometmes reflexes are just too darned slow, though.
It’s the thought that counts, AiT, as for the Tibetans, I believe they will prevail with the same sort of efficiency, creativity and courage that we saw in the Ewoks at the Battle of Endor.
Many folks here agree that they get a real bad deal by having to put up with high beef price. However, the way they handle beef issue only provides a fodder to local anti-American element. It is not smart.
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