China and Japan have agreed not to use the historical issue as a
bargaining chip in their relations.
Ten Chinese historians have teamed up with their Japanese
counterparts for a joint study of shared history, heralding a
positive change in direction.
Their joint approach to history will begin on December 26-27
when these experts in history, international politics and diplomacy
will establish principles for their discussions and define the
specific issues to be studied.
History has become a thorn in the side of bilateral relations
for decades, moving its diplomatic dimension into a stalemate for a
while.
It is encouraging that the two countries are initiating the
first step to free their relations from the sway of the historical
issue.
It is unrealistic to expect that the first meeting of the two
countries' experts will remove all their differences.
An appeal to his compatriots for patience launched by the
chairman of the Chinese contingent, Bu Ping, reflects the gravity
of the issue.
The people of the two countries abandon themselves to sentiment
when historical controversy occurs.
Hopefully, the academic discussions between the Chinese and
Japanese experts will be immune to these feelings. The experts
should be allowed to put their academic deliberations on the
historical issue in a different perspective.
Interpretations of many parts of the bilateral history vary in
China and Japan. It may be too idealistic to expect the same
readings of the issue from the two countries.
The point, however, is that they should not let history become a
bargaining chip.
The joint effort aims to promote a more objective understanding
of history through frank discussions.
When President Hu Jintao and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo
Abe agreed in October to begin joint research on the countries'
shared history by the end of the year, they sent a clear and
positive signal that their countries will begin to solve the
problems left over from the past. The Chinese and Japanese foreign
ministers agreed to set a target of 2008 for the publication of the
joint study.
The meeting next week is part of a recent rapprochement between
China and Japan following a summit in October, and aims to reverse
a steep decline in the relationship amid the dispute over former
Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi paying homage to the
controversial Yasukuni Shrine.
The two countries will also hold a year of cultural and sports
exchanges in 2007 to mark the 35th anniversary of the normalization
of their diplomatic relations. The program is designed to promote
people-to-people and youth exchanges to build more understanding
and improve perceptions of the two countries.
Objective historical facts establish a solid foundation for
understanding and perception.
Given the wide difference between the two countries' readings of
the history, the Chinese and Japanese experts have a tough job to
do.
But the issue deserves this joint effort.
(China Daily December 21, 2006)
