The Japanese Government is considering naming Yuji Miyamoto as
the next ambassador to China, the Japanese media reported over the
weekend. The appointment aims to improve problematic bilateral
ties, the Japan's Kyodo News Agency quoted government sources as
saying.
Miyamoto, an ambassador in charge of Okinawa issues, is expected
to succeed Koreshige Anami, who will have served as ambassador to
China for five years this month, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported,
citing government officials. The decision could be announced as
early as this month, it said.
China-Japan relations have soured, in part due to the Japanese
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's repeated visits to the
war-related Yasukuni Shrine honoring 14 Class-A war criminals,
which China sees as a symbol of Japanese militarism.
The personnel change is expected to become effective this month,
but Japan's Foreign Ministry will make a final decision on the
timing of the appointment after closely watching developments in
bilateral ties, Kyodo said.
If he takes the new post, the most pressing job for Miyamoto,
known as an expert on China, would be rebuilding Tokyo's ties with
Beijing. Miyamoto has previously served at the Japanese Embassy in
Beijing.
China-Japan relations were at a very low point last year and the
two have entered 2006 with a long list of problems weighing down
their relationship.
These include differences over Koizumi's visits to the Yasukuni
Shrine and gas and oil development rights in the East China
Sea.
No talks have yet been scheduled between the two sides to work
out their problems.
The latest problem is an argument over the death of a member of
staff at the Japanese Consulate General in Shanghai in 2004.
Japan said the death was linked to action by Chinese security
agents, an allegation China said was "vile" behavior that "smears"
Beijing's image.
Last week Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang, when asked to
comment on the allegation, said the death was suicide and said
China and Japan had clearly defined the nature of the case 18
months ago.
(China Daily January 3, 2006)