Mainichi Daily News
Feb 9, 2008
China has come under strong international criticism for its exports of products and foodstuffs found to contain toxic materials. The governments of many Western countries and Japan have demanded that Beijing take tougher steps to ensure product safety. With the Beijing Olympics coming up in August 2008, the Chinese government is eager to restore the tarnished image of products made in China.
In spring 2007, over 100 people died in Panama after taking cough syrup that was found to contain diethylene glycol that had been manufactured in China. Many dogs and cats in the United States and Canada also died after eating pet food made with ingredients imported from China. And toxic lead was detected in paint used in children's toys, leading to the large-scale recall of such toys. To allay the fears of American consumers concerned about tainted Chinese products, some products sold in US shops now carry a "China-free" label indicating that none of the ingredients are from China.
In Japan, residual pesticides were found in frozen spinach imported from China in 2002. This prompted the introduction of a "positive list" in May 2006 calling for stricter standards regarding agricultural chemicals. Between June 2006 and May 2007, detection of residual chemicals in violation of the Food Sanitation Law has resulted in 761 measures, including the disposal of the contaminated food items. A third of all such products were from China.
Even in China, concern about food safety is growing. This was prompted by a 2004 incident involving fake powdered milk in Fuyang, Anhui Province. Thirteen infants died since 2003 after drinking the contaminated milk. Also in 2004, 14 people died in Guangdong after drinking contaminated alcohol.
These incidents, though, are just the tip of the iceberg. They are caused by unscrupulous merchants who give overriding priority to profits and have no qualms about using illegal or counterfeit ingredients. In July 2007, an uproar erupted over allegations that cardboard had been used to make meat dumplings. This charge itself was later revealed to have been "faked" by a TV station, but the fact that many viewers fell for this story in itself is an indication of the strong concern people harbor about what they eat.
The Beijing government has outlined policies to address these problems and to win back the trust of the international community. In July 2007, China's State Council announced special provisions to strengthen the supervision and administration of safety standards covering foodstuffs and other products. And the following month a supervisory task force on product quality and food safety was established in the State Council, headed by Vice Premier Wu Yi. A nationwide campaign was launched, and a system of food and toy recalls was introduced.
Showing posts with label PRC-Japan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label PRC-Japan. Show all posts
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Twist in 'gyoza' case points to packaging
SEALED WRAP TAINTED, DUMPLINGS NOT
Feb 9, 2008
KOBE (Kyodo) The pesticide at the root of the "gyoza" food-poisoning scare has been found on the inner surface of a hermetically sealed package of the frozen Chinese-made dumplings, raising the possibility contamination took place either before or during the packaging process.
In a twist, however, the pesticide was detected on both the inner and outer sides of the packaging, but not in the fillings or the dough. No holes or scratches were found either, police said.
The package, one of 11 set aside by an Osaka supermarket, was tainted with the same pesticide, methamidophos, that sickened 10 people in Chiba and Hyogo prefectures starting in December.
China's quality control authorities have said no problems have been found in the way food or production is managed at the maker, Tianyang Food, in Hebei Province, and that methamidophos was not used at the factory, indicating the likelihood the dumplings were deliberately contaminated.
Chinese investigators have also found that the container carrying the suspect dumplings was never opened after leaving Tianyang Food and was loaded straight onto a ship bound for Japan at Tianjin port.
Police also said they have found methamidophos on the outside of a package that bore a tiny hole, but confirmed that none of the dumplings inside was tainted.
Both were among the 11 packages sent back by the Happiece Hirakata supermarket in Hirakata, Osaka Prefecture, after consumers complained the surfaces were sticky and smelled unusual.
The dumplings were imported by JT Foods Co., an affiliate of Japan Tobacco Inc., through intermediation by Sojitz Foods Corp., a subsidiary of trading house Sojitz Corp.
Of the 11 packages, six have been confirmed as tainted on the outside, and one as having pesticide on the outer and inner surfaces of the packaging and in the dough.
Police have collected 133 packages that were made on Oct. 1 — the same date that the dumplings in the food poisonings were manufactured, they said. So far, only 17 have been inspected.
The latest two cases bring the number of tainted gyoza packages to 11 since the food-poisoning scare broke last week.
Since the packages set aside by the supermarket likely arrived there in the same box used at the port from which they were imported, it is also possible the box was contaminated as a whole.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura warned the public against speculating on the cause of the contamination. A Chinese quality control official said the previous day that the dumplings could have been deliberately poisoned by people who want to harm relations between the two countries.
Methamidophos is a highly toxic organophosphate pesticide banned in Japan but still used in China.
'Gyoza' dates suspect
BEIJING (Kyodo) Pesticide-laced Chinese-made frozen "gyoza" dumplings that were sold in Japan and sickened some Japanese consumers were produced on a holiday and weekend when a smaller number of workers were on duty, Japanese sources said Friday.
Oct. 1 and Oct. 20, on which the dumplings contaminated with the highly toxic organophosphate pesticide methamidophos were produced, were a holiday and a Saturday, respectively. June 3, when dumplings containing the pesticide dichlorvos were made, was a Sunday, the sources said.
The dumplings were manufactured by Tianyang Food in Hebei Province, south of Beijing.
Earlier this week, Wei Chuanzhong, vice minister of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, told a Japanese government team that the contaminated frozen meat dumplings may have been poisoned on purpose by those who do not wish to see good relations between the two countries.
China's quality control authorities have said no problems were found in the food and production management on the part of the maker and that methamidophos was not used at its factory.
Chinese police are apparently questioning company employees who worked on the three days.
In Tokyo, Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura said Friday that investigations are still under way.
Feb 9, 2008
KOBE (Kyodo) The pesticide at the root of the "gyoza" food-poisoning scare has been found on the inner surface of a hermetically sealed package of the frozen Chinese-made dumplings, raising the possibility contamination took place either before or during the packaging process.
In a twist, however, the pesticide was detected on both the inner and outer sides of the packaging, but not in the fillings or the dough. No holes or scratches were found either, police said.
The package, one of 11 set aside by an Osaka supermarket, was tainted with the same pesticide, methamidophos, that sickened 10 people in Chiba and Hyogo prefectures starting in December.
China's quality control authorities have said no problems have been found in the way food or production is managed at the maker, Tianyang Food, in Hebei Province, and that methamidophos was not used at the factory, indicating the likelihood the dumplings were deliberately contaminated.
Chinese investigators have also found that the container carrying the suspect dumplings was never opened after leaving Tianyang Food and was loaded straight onto a ship bound for Japan at Tianjin port.
Police also said they have found methamidophos on the outside of a package that bore a tiny hole, but confirmed that none of the dumplings inside was tainted.
Both were among the 11 packages sent back by the Happiece Hirakata supermarket in Hirakata, Osaka Prefecture, after consumers complained the surfaces were sticky and smelled unusual.
The dumplings were imported by JT Foods Co., an affiliate of Japan Tobacco Inc., through intermediation by Sojitz Foods Corp., a subsidiary of trading house Sojitz Corp.
Of the 11 packages, six have been confirmed as tainted on the outside, and one as having pesticide on the outer and inner surfaces of the packaging and in the dough.
Police have collected 133 packages that were made on Oct. 1 — the same date that the dumplings in the food poisonings were manufactured, they said. So far, only 17 have been inspected.
The latest two cases bring the number of tainted gyoza packages to 11 since the food-poisoning scare broke last week.
Since the packages set aside by the supermarket likely arrived there in the same box used at the port from which they were imported, it is also possible the box was contaminated as a whole.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura warned the public against speculating on the cause of the contamination. A Chinese quality control official said the previous day that the dumplings could have been deliberately poisoned by people who want to harm relations between the two countries.
Methamidophos is a highly toxic organophosphate pesticide banned in Japan but still used in China.
'Gyoza' dates suspect
BEIJING (Kyodo) Pesticide-laced Chinese-made frozen "gyoza" dumplings that were sold in Japan and sickened some Japanese consumers were produced on a holiday and weekend when a smaller number of workers were on duty, Japanese sources said Friday.
Oct. 1 and Oct. 20, on which the dumplings contaminated with the highly toxic organophosphate pesticide methamidophos were produced, were a holiday and a Saturday, respectively. June 3, when dumplings containing the pesticide dichlorvos were made, was a Sunday, the sources said.
The dumplings were manufactured by Tianyang Food in Hebei Province, south of Beijing.
Earlier this week, Wei Chuanzhong, vice minister of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, told a Japanese government team that the contaminated frozen meat dumplings may have been poisoned on purpose by those who do not wish to see good relations between the two countries.
China's quality control authorities have said no problems were found in the food and production management on the part of the maker and that methamidophos was not used at its factory.
Chinese police are apparently questioning company employees who worked on the three days.
In Tokyo, Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura said Friday that investigations are still under way.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Japanese merger poisoned by Chinese dumplings scare
by Kyoko Hasegawa
Feb 6, 2008
(AFP) - One of Japan's leading food companies announced Wednesday it was pulling out of a high-profile merger involving the group that imported Chinese-made dumplings containing pesticide.
The move by Nissin Food Products Co., famous for pioneering instant noodles in the 1950s, is the biggest indication yet of the fallout to business from the health scare shaking Japan.
Thousands of Japanese have complained of illness -- with 10 diagnosed with pesticide poisoning -- after eating frozen meat dumplings which were made at a plant near the Chinese capital Beijing.
A Japanese team said on Wednesday it found no problems on a tour of the factory as a Chinese official visiting Tokyo made an emotional appeal for Japan not to jump to conclusions.
The dumplings were sold by a unit of Japan Tobacco Inc. (JT). The company, looking to branch out amid dwindling tobacco sales, agreed in November to merge its frozen food business with Nissin Food.
But Nissin said its board decided to cancel the deal with the now scandal-tainted tobacco giant.
"When food poisoning takes place, it is a universal rule that foodmakers should immediately take action, such as a recall," Nissin Food president Koki Ando told a news conference.
"But there seems to be a fundamental difference between us and JT about food safety issues," Ando said.
The tobacco company has been denounced for waiting one month to reveal the pesticide discovery, saying it needed time to verify that customers' illnesses were linked to the dumplings.
"From the bottom of my heart, I apologise for causing concerns about food safety," JT president Hiroshi Kimura told a separate news conference.
Under the proposed deal, JT last year bought major frozen food maker Katokichi Co. Ltd in a friendly one billion-dollar takeover. Nissin was then supposed to buy a 49 percent stake in Katokichi from the tobacco company, and then the three firms were to merge frozen-food operations.
China has been hit by a string of scandals over its products, raising fears for the massive manufacturing industry behind the nation's soaring growth.
Li Chunfeng, head of a Chinese delegation that held talks in Tokyo on the issue, denied suggestions by Japan's health minister, Yoichi Masuzoe, that the poisoning was deliberate, saying security was tight at factories.
"Today is the eve of the Lunar New Year in China. More than one billion people will eat dumplings tonight," he said. "I will eat dumplings myself tonight once I get back to Beijing."
"I hope the Japanese media will trust the governments both of Japan and China and report on this with calm," he said, nearly shedding tears.
China is Japan's largest trading partner and its second biggest supplier of imported food.
Japanese police said they found high levels of a pesticide, methamidophos, in dumplings made by Tianyang Food Co. near Beijing.
Another distributor, Japanese Consumers' Co-operative Union, revealed that a second pesticide, dichlorvos, was also found on dumplings made by the Tianyang factory.
But a Japanese team toured the factory and found no abnormalities.
"The factory was clean and well-kept, and we did not find any problems during our tour," said Taiji Harashima, head of the Cabinet Office's Consumer Policy Division, as quoted by Kyodo News.
The market appeared relatively unconcerned about the effects on JT of the Nissin pullout.
JT shares fell 0.87 percent to 572,000 yen, performing better than the benchmark Nikkei-225 index which plummeted 4.70 percent on concerns over the state of the US economy.
Shares in Nissin, however, plunged 7.82 percent to 3,300 yen.
JT has been on a major expansion campaign. Last year it bought British rival Gallaher, behind brands such as Benson and Hedges and Silk Cut, for 19 billion dollars in the biggest-ever foreign acquisition by a Japanese firm.
Feb 6, 2008
(AFP) - One of Japan's leading food companies announced Wednesday it was pulling out of a high-profile merger involving the group that imported Chinese-made dumplings containing pesticide.
The move by Nissin Food Products Co., famous for pioneering instant noodles in the 1950s, is the biggest indication yet of the fallout to business from the health scare shaking Japan.
Thousands of Japanese have complained of illness -- with 10 diagnosed with pesticide poisoning -- after eating frozen meat dumplings which were made at a plant near the Chinese capital Beijing.
A Japanese team said on Wednesday it found no problems on a tour of the factory as a Chinese official visiting Tokyo made an emotional appeal for Japan not to jump to conclusions.
The dumplings were sold by a unit of Japan Tobacco Inc. (JT). The company, looking to branch out amid dwindling tobacco sales, agreed in November to merge its frozen food business with Nissin Food.
But Nissin said its board decided to cancel the deal with the now scandal-tainted tobacco giant.
"When food poisoning takes place, it is a universal rule that foodmakers should immediately take action, such as a recall," Nissin Food president Koki Ando told a news conference.
"But there seems to be a fundamental difference between us and JT about food safety issues," Ando said.
The tobacco company has been denounced for waiting one month to reveal the pesticide discovery, saying it needed time to verify that customers' illnesses were linked to the dumplings.
"From the bottom of my heart, I apologise for causing concerns about food safety," JT president Hiroshi Kimura told a separate news conference.
Under the proposed deal, JT last year bought major frozen food maker Katokichi Co. Ltd in a friendly one billion-dollar takeover. Nissin was then supposed to buy a 49 percent stake in Katokichi from the tobacco company, and then the three firms were to merge frozen-food operations.
China has been hit by a string of scandals over its products, raising fears for the massive manufacturing industry behind the nation's soaring growth.
Li Chunfeng, head of a Chinese delegation that held talks in Tokyo on the issue, denied suggestions by Japan's health minister, Yoichi Masuzoe, that the poisoning was deliberate, saying security was tight at factories.
"Today is the eve of the Lunar New Year in China. More than one billion people will eat dumplings tonight," he said. "I will eat dumplings myself tonight once I get back to Beijing."
"I hope the Japanese media will trust the governments both of Japan and China and report on this with calm," he said, nearly shedding tears.
China is Japan's largest trading partner and its second biggest supplier of imported food.
Japanese police said they found high levels of a pesticide, methamidophos, in dumplings made by Tianyang Food Co. near Beijing.
Another distributor, Japanese Consumers' Co-operative Union, revealed that a second pesticide, dichlorvos, was also found on dumplings made by the Tianyang factory.
But a Japanese team toured the factory and found no abnormalities.
"The factory was clean and well-kept, and we did not find any problems during our tour," said Taiji Harashima, head of the Cabinet Office's Consumer Policy Division, as quoted by Kyodo News.
The market appeared relatively unconcerned about the effects on JT of the Nissin pullout.
JT shares fell 0.87 percent to 572,000 yen, performing better than the benchmark Nikkei-225 index which plummeted 4.70 percent on concerns over the state of the US economy.
Shares in Nissin, however, plunged 7.82 percent to 3,300 yen.
JT has been on a major expansion campaign. Last year it bought British rival Gallaher, behind brands such as Benson and Hedges and Silk Cut, for 19 billion dollars in the biggest-ever foreign acquisition by a Japanese firm.
war with Taiwan, China, Japan, US: conflicts, federation, opportunities, finance, trade
war with Taiwan, China, Japan, US: conflicts, federation, opportunities, finance, trade
by world travel, war, peace, wealth, politics Monday, Feb. 04, 2008
Is a war between Taiwan and China coming? Are US and Japan going to be involved? What is the possible outcome and its effects on global finance, trade, politics, peace, democracy, wealth, jobs? Is federation a good choice for avioding the coming war? Get powerful new ideas from leading thinker George Zhibin Gu.
Federation for Taiwan and China: a powerful way to aviod war and move toward peace and global stability and progress:
China and the New World Order:
How Entrepreneurship, Globalization, and Borderless Business are Reshaping China and the World (Book Excerpts)
by George Zhibin Gu
Foreword by William Ratliff
Publisher: Fultus; October 2006; 248 pages
taken from; http://www.financialsense.com
A New World Order in the Making？
Is a new world order in the making? The answer: yes. Up to now, only about 20% of the world's people have attained solid development, growth, and modernity. Now the rest are catching up at an unprecedented speed. This sudden surge in so many late developers suggests a brave new world in the making.
Several Key Changes
Huge changes are happening, within a vastly expanded sphere for all people and nations. We can identify four in particular.
First, wealth making through industrialization and commercialization has become a universal thing. For a long time, products made in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Germany dominated global markets. Today, products made in China, Mexico, Vietnam, and Indonesia, among other developing nations, are increasingly flooding the world, changing the global production map again.
Behind this changing map, interestingly, many poor nations have rapidly taken on active roles in the global economy. But their biggest weapon remains low-cost labor, which provides a working platform for cooperation and sharing between the rich and poor nations.
[...]
Chapter 21. Federation: The Best Choice for Taiwan and Mainland China
The realities between Taiwan and mainland China are "economically hot, politically cold." Their ever-increasing economic ties demand far better political relations, not to mention other things. A federation would seem to be a highly feasible solution. Economically, the time is right; politically, it is only a few steps away.
A federal system would mean more autonomy for Taiwan than Hong Kong and Macau enjoy. For Beijing in particular and China as a whole, it would mean the revolutionary concept of a unified China with multiple power centers.
Under a federal system, the island would keep its own government, military, judicial, and other systems. Its political leadership would not bow to Beijing. In short, the relationship would be a political partnership between equals. Both political entities would be subject only to a “federation” law. And anything is open for discussion under the "one China" principle.
Taiwan's Love Affair With the Mainland
Economically, Taiwan and mainland China are well connected. The mainland is Taiwan's biggest trading partner as well as its number-one export market. In 2004, total cross-strait trade reached U.S.$61.6 billion, a jump of 33.1% over 2003; of this, Taiwan's exports accounted for $45 billion, by Taiwan's own accounting.
[...]
Chapter 22. Taiwanese Business in the Mainland
The ongoing business and human flows from Taiwan to the mainland are both natural and inevitable. They follow from the basic economic principle: Humans go where opportunities lie, and so does capital.
To date, Taiwanese businesspeople have made strides in the mainland, with impacts of many dimensions. For one, they have helped to integrate the island’s economy with the mainland’s in all sorts of ways. For another, they have gained huge room for growth. In addition, they are helping to foster a new environment for a possible peaceful resolution of the unity issue.
A Vibrant Taiwanese Force
In the current era, the Hong Kong and Macau business communities went to the mainland far sooner than their Taiwanese counterpart, but the reasons were exclusively political. For Taiwanese residents, traveling to the mainland has been allowed only since 1987. Quickly, cross-strait life changed dramatically. By now, Taiwanese businesspeople have made as much of a mark in the mainland as those from Hong Kong and Macau.
Why has Taiwan Inc. put such huge capital into the mainland despite all the political tensions? Their motive is simple: The mainland offers immense opportunities, much greater than those on the island. Indeed, the early birds have already benefited greatly, which has hastened the rush.
As with their Hong Kong and Macau counterparts, the greatest strengths of the Taiwanese businesspeople come from their vast numbers. Today, most Taiwanese players are small and medium-sized companies. They cover all economic sectors, ranging from consumer products, real estate, and retail to IT and equipment manufacturing.1
These Taiwanese companies are mostly niche players, but they have numerous advantages. They are aggressive and flexible and are quick learners. Being Chinese, they can adapt to the mainland environment very quickly and effectively despite the different political surroundings. The explosive growth in the mainland market has become a new profit and growth haven for them.
[...]
This book consists of 26 chapters, which are organized into eight parts:
I. China’s New Role in the World Development
Ch 1. China's social changes vs tourism
Ch 2. Whose 21st century?
Ch 3. Go east, young man!
Ch 4. Everyone in the same boat
ch 5. Power and limits of later developers
II. The Yuan, Trade, and Investment
ch 6. China's competitiveness vs rising yuan.
ch 7. Where to invest your money?
ch 8. Behind a rising yuan
ch 9. Beyond textile trade wars
III. China’s Fast-Changing Society, Politics, and Economy (in light of Chinese and global history)
ch 10. Lessons from Shenzhen, China's new powerhouse.
ch 11. Hunan province: from red state to supergirl and superrice.
ch 12. A revolution of Chinese professions
ch 13. What is the Chinese bureaucratic tradition?
ch 14. Why does Beijing want to reform?
IV. China’s Banking, Insurance, and Stock Market Reforms
ch 15. The explosive insurance market
ch 16. Chinese banks on the move, finally.
ch 17. lessons from China's stock market.
V. Chinese Multinationals vs. Global Giants
ch 18. The coming of age of Chinese multinationals.
ch 19. Behind Chinese multinationals' global efforts.
ch 20. China's technology development.
VI. The Taiwan Issue : Current Affairs and Trends (federation as an alternate way for unity)
ch 21. Federation: the best choice for Taiwan and mainland China.
ch 22. Taiwanese businesses in the mainland.
a vibrant Taiwanese force.
Hightech.
Other sectors.
What is the next?
Will Spring follow winter?
VII. India vs. China : Moving Ahead at the Same Time
ch. 23. China and India: can they do better together?
ch 24. Uneven development: India vs China.
VIII. The Japan-China Issue : Evolving Relations in Light of History
ch 25. Japanese business in China.
ch 26. Japan's past aggressions vs current affairs.
Author George Zhibin Gu is a journalist/consultant based in China. He has written three other books: 1. China’s Global Reach: Markets, Multinationals and Globalization (Fultus, 2006); 2. Made in China: National and Business Players and Challengers under Globalization and Capitalism (English edition forthcoming, 2007); and 3. China Beyond Deng: Reform in the PRC (McFarland, 1991)
by world travel, war, peace, wealth, politics Monday, Feb. 04, 2008
Is a war between Taiwan and China coming? Are US and Japan going to be involved? What is the possible outcome and its effects on global finance, trade, politics, peace, democracy, wealth, jobs? Is federation a good choice for avioding the coming war? Get powerful new ideas from leading thinker George Zhibin Gu.
Federation for Taiwan and China: a powerful way to aviod war and move toward peace and global stability and progress:
China and the New World Order:
How Entrepreneurship, Globalization, and Borderless Business are Reshaping China and the World (Book Excerpts)
by George Zhibin Gu
Foreword by William Ratliff
Publisher: Fultus; October 2006; 248 pages
taken from; http://www.financialsense.com
A New World Order in the Making？
Is a new world order in the making? The answer: yes. Up to now, only about 20% of the world's people have attained solid development, growth, and modernity. Now the rest are catching up at an unprecedented speed. This sudden surge in so many late developers suggests a brave new world in the making.
Several Key Changes
Huge changes are happening, within a vastly expanded sphere for all people and nations. We can identify four in particular.
First, wealth making through industrialization and commercialization has become a universal thing. For a long time, products made in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Germany dominated global markets. Today, products made in China, Mexico, Vietnam, and Indonesia, among other developing nations, are increasingly flooding the world, changing the global production map again.
Behind this changing map, interestingly, many poor nations have rapidly taken on active roles in the global economy. But their biggest weapon remains low-cost labor, which provides a working platform for cooperation and sharing between the rich and poor nations.
[...]
Chapter 21. Federation: The Best Choice for Taiwan and Mainland China
The realities between Taiwan and mainland China are "economically hot, politically cold." Their ever-increasing economic ties demand far better political relations, not to mention other things. A federation would seem to be a highly feasible solution. Economically, the time is right; politically, it is only a few steps away.
A federal system would mean more autonomy for Taiwan than Hong Kong and Macau enjoy. For Beijing in particular and China as a whole, it would mean the revolutionary concept of a unified China with multiple power centers.
Under a federal system, the island would keep its own government, military, judicial, and other systems. Its political leadership would not bow to Beijing. In short, the relationship would be a political partnership between equals. Both political entities would be subject only to a “federation” law. And anything is open for discussion under the "one China" principle.
Taiwan's Love Affair With the Mainland
Economically, Taiwan and mainland China are well connected. The mainland is Taiwan's biggest trading partner as well as its number-one export market. In 2004, total cross-strait trade reached U.S.$61.6 billion, a jump of 33.1% over 2003; of this, Taiwan's exports accounted for $45 billion, by Taiwan's own accounting.
[...]
Chapter 22. Taiwanese Business in the Mainland
The ongoing business and human flows from Taiwan to the mainland are both natural and inevitable. They follow from the basic economic principle: Humans go where opportunities lie, and so does capital.
To date, Taiwanese businesspeople have made strides in the mainland, with impacts of many dimensions. For one, they have helped to integrate the island’s economy with the mainland’s in all sorts of ways. For another, they have gained huge room for growth. In addition, they are helping to foster a new environment for a possible peaceful resolution of the unity issue.
A Vibrant Taiwanese Force
In the current era, the Hong Kong and Macau business communities went to the mainland far sooner than their Taiwanese counterpart, but the reasons were exclusively political. For Taiwanese residents, traveling to the mainland has been allowed only since 1987. Quickly, cross-strait life changed dramatically. By now, Taiwanese businesspeople have made as much of a mark in the mainland as those from Hong Kong and Macau.
Why has Taiwan Inc. put such huge capital into the mainland despite all the political tensions? Their motive is simple: The mainland offers immense opportunities, much greater than those on the island. Indeed, the early birds have already benefited greatly, which has hastened the rush.
As with their Hong Kong and Macau counterparts, the greatest strengths of the Taiwanese businesspeople come from their vast numbers. Today, most Taiwanese players are small and medium-sized companies. They cover all economic sectors, ranging from consumer products, real estate, and retail to IT and equipment manufacturing.1
These Taiwanese companies are mostly niche players, but they have numerous advantages. They are aggressive and flexible and are quick learners. Being Chinese, they can adapt to the mainland environment very quickly and effectively despite the different political surroundings. The explosive growth in the mainland market has become a new profit and growth haven for them.
[...]
This book consists of 26 chapters, which are organized into eight parts:
I. China’s New Role in the World Development
Ch 1. China's social changes vs tourism
Ch 2. Whose 21st century?
Ch 3. Go east, young man!
Ch 4. Everyone in the same boat
ch 5. Power and limits of later developers
II. The Yuan, Trade, and Investment
ch 6. China's competitiveness vs rising yuan.
ch 7. Where to invest your money?
ch 8. Behind a rising yuan
ch 9. Beyond textile trade wars
III. China’s Fast-Changing Society, Politics, and Economy (in light of Chinese and global history)
ch 10. Lessons from Shenzhen, China's new powerhouse.
ch 11. Hunan province: from red state to supergirl and superrice.
ch 12. A revolution of Chinese professions
ch 13. What is the Chinese bureaucratic tradition?
ch 14. Why does Beijing want to reform?
IV. China’s Banking, Insurance, and Stock Market Reforms
ch 15. The explosive insurance market
ch 16. Chinese banks on the move, finally.
ch 17. lessons from China's stock market.
V. Chinese Multinationals vs. Global Giants
ch 18. The coming of age of Chinese multinationals.
ch 19. Behind Chinese multinationals' global efforts.
ch 20. China's technology development.
VI. The Taiwan Issue : Current Affairs and Trends (federation as an alternate way for unity)
ch 21. Federation: the best choice for Taiwan and mainland China.
ch 22. Taiwanese businesses in the mainland.
a vibrant Taiwanese force.
Hightech.
Other sectors.
What is the next?
Will Spring follow winter?
VII. India vs. China : Moving Ahead at the Same Time
ch. 23. China and India: can they do better together?
ch 24. Uneven development: India vs China.
VIII. The Japan-China Issue : Evolving Relations in Light of History
ch 25. Japanese business in China.
ch 26. Japan's past aggressions vs current affairs.
Author George Zhibin Gu is a journalist/consultant based in China. He has written three other books: 1. China’s Global Reach: Markets, Multinationals and Globalization (Fultus, 2006); 2. Made in China: National and Business Players and Challengers under Globalization and Capitalism (English edition forthcoming, 2007); and 3. China Beyond Deng: Reform in the PRC (McFarland, 1991)
Japan: Food Poisoning May Be Deliberate
By Mari Yamaguchi, Associated Press Writer
Japanese Official Says Contamination of Chinese Dumplings Probably Deliberate
Feb 5, 2008
TOKYO (AP) -- Pesticide-laced Chinese dumplings that sickened at least 10 people in Japan and triggered a nationwide scare were probably poisoned deliberately, Japan's health minister said Tuesday.
The frozen dumplings, produced by China's Tianyang Food Processing Ltd., were contaminated with the pesticide methamidophos and blamed for a string of poisonings in December and January.
Investigators, however, have found traces of the pesticide on the outside of the dumplings, rather than on the filling. The poison was also found in much higher concentrations than would be expected from residue from pesticides sprayed on vegetables.
Health Minister Yoichi Masuzoe said that pointed to deliberate poisoning, rather than accidental contamination.
"Judging from the circumstantial evidence, we'd have to think that it's highly likely to be a crime," he said. "That means we must let police investigate, and I hope the case would be resolved through our cooperation with China."
As Masuzoe spoke, a Japanese government delegation started an investigation in China, where they were meeting with their counterparts. The group plans to visit the dumpling factory where the food was produced.
About 20 top police investigators from the areas where the poisonings took place gathered in Tokyo on Tuesday to discuss the dumpling probe, and police in the two prefectures (states) Chiba and Hyogo -- the home of the 10 victims -- are now looking into the dumpling contamination as an attempted murder case.
Tsuyoshi Yoneda, head of the Criminal Affairs Bureau at the National Police Agency, said at the meeting that the case is a "serious threat to the food safety in our country."
"We are facing an extremely serious case," he said.
The contamination set off a nationwide scare last week and over the weekend. In addition to the 10 confirmed victims, more than 1,200 people have reported becoming ill after eating Tianyang products, though no link with the pesticide in the additional cases has been proven.
Authorities have ordered the recall of millions of bags of dumplings and other foods made by Tianyang, while many stores and restaurants in Japan have stopped offering Chinese products altogether.
Traces of the insecticide were found in the dumplings, on the packaging and in the vomit of the 10 people who were sickened. Investigators in western Japan also found traces on six bags of the dumplings recalled over the weekend.
Punctures were found in a handful of the bags that were recalled or tied to poisonings.
China's product safety agency conducted tests on the ingredients of Tianyang dumplings from the same batch sent to Japan, but found none of the insecticide cited by Japanese authorities.
The pesticide was not found in further tests on dumplings made in the 11-day period before and after the production dates of the two questionable batches, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said.
"If the Japanese side has some good suggestions and proposals, China is willing to heed their advice," he said.
Liu said he did not believe the dumpling case would damage relations, because it was an "individual case."
Some Japanese officials urged caution against jumping to conclusions about the source of the contamination.
Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura said hasty remarks could easily damage fragile bilateral relations with China, which have improved since 2006 after years of tensions.
"We should stay calm at least on the government level in order to pursue our investigation," Komura said.
Japanese Official Says Contamination of Chinese Dumplings Probably Deliberate
Feb 5, 2008
TOKYO (AP) -- Pesticide-laced Chinese dumplings that sickened at least 10 people in Japan and triggered a nationwide scare were probably poisoned deliberately, Japan's health minister said Tuesday.
The frozen dumplings, produced by China's Tianyang Food Processing Ltd., were contaminated with the pesticide methamidophos and blamed for a string of poisonings in December and January.
Investigators, however, have found traces of the pesticide on the outside of the dumplings, rather than on the filling. The poison was also found in much higher concentrations than would be expected from residue from pesticides sprayed on vegetables.
Health Minister Yoichi Masuzoe said that pointed to deliberate poisoning, rather than accidental contamination.
"Judging from the circumstantial evidence, we'd have to think that it's highly likely to be a crime," he said. "That means we must let police investigate, and I hope the case would be resolved through our cooperation with China."
As Masuzoe spoke, a Japanese government delegation started an investigation in China, where they were meeting with their counterparts. The group plans to visit the dumpling factory where the food was produced.
About 20 top police investigators from the areas where the poisonings took place gathered in Tokyo on Tuesday to discuss the dumpling probe, and police in the two prefectures (states) Chiba and Hyogo -- the home of the 10 victims -- are now looking into the dumpling contamination as an attempted murder case.
Tsuyoshi Yoneda, head of the Criminal Affairs Bureau at the National Police Agency, said at the meeting that the case is a "serious threat to the food safety in our country."
"We are facing an extremely serious case," he said.
The contamination set off a nationwide scare last week and over the weekend. In addition to the 10 confirmed victims, more than 1,200 people have reported becoming ill after eating Tianyang products, though no link with the pesticide in the additional cases has been proven.
Authorities have ordered the recall of millions of bags of dumplings and other foods made by Tianyang, while many stores and restaurants in Japan have stopped offering Chinese products altogether.
Traces of the insecticide were found in the dumplings, on the packaging and in the vomit of the 10 people who were sickened. Investigators in western Japan also found traces on six bags of the dumplings recalled over the weekend.
Punctures were found in a handful of the bags that were recalled or tied to poisonings.
China's product safety agency conducted tests on the ingredients of Tianyang dumplings from the same batch sent to Japan, but found none of the insecticide cited by Japanese authorities.
The pesticide was not found in further tests on dumplings made in the 11-day period before and after the production dates of the two questionable batches, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said.
"If the Japanese side has some good suggestions and proposals, China is willing to heed their advice," he said.
Liu said he did not believe the dumpling case would damage relations, because it was an "individual case."
Some Japanese officials urged caution against jumping to conclusions about the source of the contamination.
Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura said hasty remarks could easily damage fragile bilateral relations with China, which have improved since 2006 after years of tensions.
"We should stay calm at least on the government level in order to pursue our investigation," Komura said.
Friday, February 1, 2008
Japan to boost air defenses against cruise missiles to cope with China threat
TOKYO — The defense ministry plans to boost its defenses against cruise missiles as China increases its air strike capabilities, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported Sunday. The ministry plans to increase the number of aircraft equipped with airborne warning and control systems and install state-of-the-art radar to allow early detection of precision-guided missiles heading for Japan, the daily said.
It is also considering developing an advanced long-range surface-to-air missile, the report said, citing senior defense ministry sources.
The government has so far mainly focused on developing a ballistic missile defense system, primarily in response to a perceived threat from North Korea.
Meanwhile, China has equipped its fighter jets and submarines with domestically developed cruise missiles, which have a range in excess of 1,000 kilometers, the newspaper said.
Beijing is also believed to have started developing advanced precision-guided missiles with a range of about 3,000 kilometers — similar to that of the U.S. military's Tomahawk cruise missile, it said.
Chinese fighter jets repeatedly approached Japan last year, coming close enough to launch a cruise missile before returning to Chinese air space, the newspaper said.
"We believe these acts were unlikely to be part of information-gathering exercises, but rather drills to prepare for a possible cruise missile attack on Japan," a senior Japanese defence official told the Yomiuri.
Jan 28, 2008 (AFP)
It is also considering developing an advanced long-range surface-to-air missile, the report said, citing senior defense ministry sources.
The government has so far mainly focused on developing a ballistic missile defense system, primarily in response to a perceived threat from North Korea.
Meanwhile, China has equipped its fighter jets and submarines with domestically developed cruise missiles, which have a range in excess of 1,000 kilometers, the newspaper said.
Beijing is also believed to have started developing advanced precision-guided missiles with a range of about 3,000 kilometers — similar to that of the U.S. military's Tomahawk cruise missile, it said.
Chinese fighter jets repeatedly approached Japan last year, coming close enough to launch a cruise missile before returning to Chinese air space, the newspaper said.
"We believe these acts were unlikely to be part of information-gathering exercises, but rather drills to prepare for a possible cruise missile attack on Japan," a senior Japanese defence official told the Yomiuri.
Jan 28, 2008 (AFP)
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Japan Tobacco Recalls Pesticide-Contaminated Food
Japan Tobacco Recalls Pesticide-Contaminated Food (Update2)
By Maki Shiraki
Jan. 30 (Bloomberg) -- Japan Tobacco Inc., the nation's biggest cigarette company, recalled some pork products imported from China after saying they were contaminated with pesticides and people who ate them became nauseous.
Japan's Health Ministry earlier said eight people were poisoned after eating frozen dumplings from China. The ministry didn't identify any company associated with the poisoning.
The recalled items included ``gyoza'' dumplings, pork cutlets and other foods containing pork. The Tokyo- based maker of Camel and Mild Seven cigarettes has been expanding its food business as tobacco consumption falls in its home market.
A local police spokesman said five of the victims were members of a family in Ichikawa City, east of Tokyo. The 5-year- old daughter was hospitalized on Jan. 22. Kyodo News reported that 10 people suffered food poisoning from frozen dumplings made in China.
Japan Tobacco President Hiroshi Kimura apologized for the suffering of the victims in a statement distributed by fax.
Shares of the company today fell 2.6 percent to 562,000 yen. Reports of the poisoning came after the close of trading.
To contact the reporter on this story: Maki Shiraki in Tokyo at mshiraki1@bloomberg.net
By Maki Shiraki
Jan. 30 (Bloomberg) -- Japan Tobacco Inc., the nation's biggest cigarette company, recalled some pork products imported from China after saying they were contaminated with pesticides and people who ate them became nauseous.
Japan's Health Ministry earlier said eight people were poisoned after eating frozen dumplings from China. The ministry didn't identify any company associated with the poisoning.
The recalled items included ``gyoza'' dumplings, pork cutlets and other foods containing pork. The Tokyo- based maker of Camel and Mild Seven cigarettes has been expanding its food business as tobacco consumption falls in its home market.
A local police spokesman said five of the victims were members of a family in Ichikawa City, east of Tokyo. The 5-year- old daughter was hospitalized on Jan. 22. Kyodo News reported that 10 people suffered food poisoning from frozen dumplings made in China.
Japan Tobacco President Hiroshi Kimura apologized for the suffering of the victims in a statement distributed by fax.
Shares of the company today fell 2.6 percent to 562,000 yen. Reports of the poisoning came after the close of trading.
To contact the reporter on this story: Maki Shiraki in Tokyo at mshiraki1@bloomberg.net
China toxic dumplings spark food scare in Japan
Jan 31, 2008
TOKYO (Reuters) - Dozens more people in Japan on Thursday said they fell sick after eating Chinese-made food, a day after Japanese food companies recalled pesticide-contaminated dumplings from China that sickened 10 people.
The food scare has triggered a nationwide probe into possible additional cases of food poisoning, while Japan's top government spokesman questioned China's attitude to food safety only weeks after the country said it had improved standards.
Japanese media and opposition lawmakers have also suggested Japan's initial response to the problem may have been too slow.
"I have two children, boys aged four and two. They love dumplings. Japanese people love dumplings," said Democratic Party parliamentarian Yuichiro Hata. "This is something that threatens peoples' lives."
Japan Tobacco Inc said on Wednesday its subsidiary, JT Foods Co., would recall the frozen dumplings and other food made at the same Chinese factory, as television broadcasters flashed warnings to viewers not to eat the products.
Around 80 people in Japan have complained of getting sick from eating food made in China, TV Asahi said. Restaurants and schools took Chinese-made food off their menus, other media said.
The scandal is the latest in a string of disputes over the safety of Chinese products from toys to toothpaste. Earlier this month, China declared that its campaign to ensure food and product safety had been a complete success.
"I don't want to think that there is any difference among countries concerning food safety, but it seems there was a sense on the Chinese side that 'this is probably ok'," Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura told a news conference.
"We want the Chinese side to properly investigate the situation," he added, pointing out that China was hit by a series of food safety scares last year.
The Health Ministry has told 19 companies selling products made at the Chinese factory in question not sell the goods until they have been declared safe for consumption, it said in a statement.
Health Minister Yoichi Masuzoe told a parliamentary committee that as of Thursday morning, the government had been consulted by several prefectures but the checks were ongoing and there had so far been no official confirmation of other cases of poisoning.
"The government will collect further information and first, prevent the spread of harm, clarify the cause and take steps to prevent a reoccurrence," Masuzoe said.
China's quality watchdog said late on Wednesday that it had begun an investigation into the affair.
"After we found out this news, we paid great attention to it," China's quality regulator said in an emailed statement.
"We quickly got in touch with relevant parties on the Japanese side to understand the situation, and have already set about investigations," it added. "We will release the results of the probe in a timely manner."
Japan has not been immune to its own food scares. A number of Japanese confectioners admitted last year to having mislabeled production and expiry dates for cookies and rice cakes.
No widespread health hazards, however, have hit the country since more than 10,000 people suffered food poisoning after drinking tainted milk in 2000.
(Reporting by Linda Sieg, Chisa Fujioka and George Nishiyama in Tokyo and Ben Blanchard in Beijing)
TOKYO (Reuters) - Dozens more people in Japan on Thursday said they fell sick after eating Chinese-made food, a day after Japanese food companies recalled pesticide-contaminated dumplings from China that sickened 10 people.
The food scare has triggered a nationwide probe into possible additional cases of food poisoning, while Japan's top government spokesman questioned China's attitude to food safety only weeks after the country said it had improved standards.
Japanese media and opposition lawmakers have also suggested Japan's initial response to the problem may have been too slow.
"I have two children, boys aged four and two. They love dumplings. Japanese people love dumplings," said Democratic Party parliamentarian Yuichiro Hata. "This is something that threatens peoples' lives."
Japan Tobacco Inc said on Wednesday its subsidiary, JT Foods Co., would recall the frozen dumplings and other food made at the same Chinese factory, as television broadcasters flashed warnings to viewers not to eat the products.
Around 80 people in Japan have complained of getting sick from eating food made in China, TV Asahi said. Restaurants and schools took Chinese-made food off their menus, other media said.
The scandal is the latest in a string of disputes over the safety of Chinese products from toys to toothpaste. Earlier this month, China declared that its campaign to ensure food and product safety had been a complete success.
"I don't want to think that there is any difference among countries concerning food safety, but it seems there was a sense on the Chinese side that 'this is probably ok'," Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura told a news conference.
"We want the Chinese side to properly investigate the situation," he added, pointing out that China was hit by a series of food safety scares last year.
The Health Ministry has told 19 companies selling products made at the Chinese factory in question not sell the goods until they have been declared safe for consumption, it said in a statement.
Health Minister Yoichi Masuzoe told a parliamentary committee that as of Thursday morning, the government had been consulted by several prefectures but the checks were ongoing and there had so far been no official confirmation of other cases of poisoning.
"The government will collect further information and first, prevent the spread of harm, clarify the cause and take steps to prevent a reoccurrence," Masuzoe said.
China's quality watchdog said late on Wednesday that it had begun an investigation into the affair.
"After we found out this news, we paid great attention to it," China's quality regulator said in an emailed statement.
"We quickly got in touch with relevant parties on the Japanese side to understand the situation, and have already set about investigations," it added. "We will release the results of the probe in a timely manner."
Japan has not been immune to its own food scares. A number of Japanese confectioners admitted last year to having mislabeled production and expiry dates for cookies and rice cakes.
No widespread health hazards, however, have hit the country since more than 10,000 people suffered food poisoning after drinking tainted milk in 2000.
(Reporting by Linda Sieg, Chisa Fujioka and George Nishiyama in Tokyo and Ben Blanchard in Beijing)
Japan calls on China to step up food safety
Jan 31, 2008
TOKYO - Japan called on China Thursday to review its food safety standards amid a nationwide scare after at least 10 people fell ill from eating frozen dumplings made in China.
The Japanese cabinet held an emergency meeting to discuss action after the food poisoning, as television networks broadcast horror stories from people who said they felt near death after eating the dumplings.
Authorities were investigating more reported cases of people falling ill since the news broke Wednesday, as a five-year-old girl remained in serious condition.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura, the government's number two, tried to reassure consumers that Japan already has standing discussions with China, its top trading partner, on the safety of food imports.
"We don't want to think that different countries have different standards on safety. But perhaps the Chinese side might have thought things are OK as they've said they're '99 percent safe,'" Machimura told a press conference.
"Despite the claim, these incidents are happening. We want the Chinese authorities to investigate what happened. That's where we will start," he said.
Japan already called on China to ensure safety standards following scandals over Chinese-made pet food and toys sickening animals and endangering children in the United States.
China has been hit hard by increasingly frequent reports of dangerous products being recalled overseas ranging from seafood and vegetables to tires and toys.
Machimura said Japan has invited Chinese officials to come to learn about chemical residues and inspection technologies.
TV Asahi interviewed family members in the western town of Takasago who said they spent between 10 days to three weeks in hospitals after eating the dumplings.
"They tasted bitter. I felt dizzy some 30 seconds after I had them and collapsed," said an 18-year-old boy, who like other family members asked not to be identified.
Five minutes later his 51-year-old father's body started twitching.
"With so much nausea and diarrhea, I thought for two days that I was dying," he said.
The 47-year-old mother said she could not walk or talk.
"My whole body was paralyzed and my eyes kept watering," she said. "I don't want to buy frozen food anymore."
TOKYO - Japan called on China Thursday to review its food safety standards amid a nationwide scare after at least 10 people fell ill from eating frozen dumplings made in China.
The Japanese cabinet held an emergency meeting to discuss action after the food poisoning, as television networks broadcast horror stories from people who said they felt near death after eating the dumplings.
Authorities were investigating more reported cases of people falling ill since the news broke Wednesday, as a five-year-old girl remained in serious condition.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura, the government's number two, tried to reassure consumers that Japan already has standing discussions with China, its top trading partner, on the safety of food imports.
"We don't want to think that different countries have different standards on safety. But perhaps the Chinese side might have thought things are OK as they've said they're '99 percent safe,'" Machimura told a press conference.
"Despite the claim, these incidents are happening. We want the Chinese authorities to investigate what happened. That's where we will start," he said.
Japan already called on China to ensure safety standards following scandals over Chinese-made pet food and toys sickening animals and endangering children in the United States.
China has been hit hard by increasingly frequent reports of dangerous products being recalled overseas ranging from seafood and vegetables to tires and toys.
Machimura said Japan has invited Chinese officials to come to learn about chemical residues and inspection technologies.
TV Asahi interviewed family members in the western town of Takasago who said they spent between 10 days to three weeks in hospitals after eating the dumplings.
"They tasted bitter. I felt dizzy some 30 seconds after I had them and collapsed," said an 18-year-old boy, who like other family members asked not to be identified.
Five minutes later his 51-year-old father's body started twitching.
"With so much nausea and diarrhea, I thought for two days that I was dying," he said.
The 47-year-old mother said she could not walk or talk.
"My whole body was paralyzed and my eyes kept watering," she said. "I don't want to buy frozen food anymore."
Chinese flock to Japan in tourism boom
By Jonathan Soble in Tokyo
January 28, 2008
The number of Chinese visitors to Japan exceeded the number of Americans for the first time in 2007, data published on Monday showed, highlighting a boom in regional tourism fuelled by Asia’s growing wealth.
The Japan National Tourist Organisation, a government-supported body, said the total number of tourists entering Asia’s wealthiest and most expensive destination climbed 14 per cent to a record 8.35m.
The JNTO attributed the growth in Chinese visitors to Japan to the increase in the disposable income of China’s growing middle class, improved air links between the countries and events last year to mark the 35th anniversary of the normalisation of Sino-Japanese relations.
Chinese have flocked to Japan to visit Tokyo Disneyland, to shop in the city’s Akihabara gadget district and to ski in the Japanese Alps. Some Tokyo electronics shops offer Mandarin-speaking guides to help shoppers fill their carts.
South Koreans remained the most numerous visitors at 2.6m, up 22 per cent from 2006, followed by Taiwanese at 1.39m. Mainland Chinese were third, followed by visitors from the US, Hong Kong and Australia.
In addition to visiting Japan in greater numbers, foreigners are spending more. According to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, the number of Japan-bound tourists doubled between 1990 and 2004 while Japan’s total tourism receipts tripled, to $11.3bn (€7.6bn, £5.7bn).
Japan is a long way from beating France as the world’s top tourist destination – the latter attracts about 75m visitors a year – but the Japanese government is, nonetheless, pushing tourism as a strategic industry and has set a target of 10m visitors by 2010.
It hopes that the increase in tourist numbers will help offset chronically weak domestic consumer spending and revitalise scenic but remote parts of Japan, such as the northern island of Hokkaido, that in some cases are closer to China or South Korea than to rich and populous Tokyo.
As part of its largely Asia-focused tourism push, the government has been working with Beijing to boost air links between Japan and China. At least 20 new routes were added in 2007, according to the JNTO.
Providing that tighter immigration checks introduced late last year do not deter visitors, it appears on track to meet its goal.
Japan remains a net exporter of tourists, however. About 17.3m Japanese went abroad last year, down 1.3 per cent from 2006.
January 28, 2008
The number of Chinese visitors to Japan exceeded the number of Americans for the first time in 2007, data published on Monday showed, highlighting a boom in regional tourism fuelled by Asia’s growing wealth.
The Japan National Tourist Organisation, a government-supported body, said the total number of tourists entering Asia’s wealthiest and most expensive destination climbed 14 per cent to a record 8.35m.
The JNTO attributed the growth in Chinese visitors to Japan to the increase in the disposable income of China’s growing middle class, improved air links between the countries and events last year to mark the 35th anniversary of the normalisation of Sino-Japanese relations.
Chinese have flocked to Japan to visit Tokyo Disneyland, to shop in the city’s Akihabara gadget district and to ski in the Japanese Alps. Some Tokyo electronics shops offer Mandarin-speaking guides to help shoppers fill their carts.
South Koreans remained the most numerous visitors at 2.6m, up 22 per cent from 2006, followed by Taiwanese at 1.39m. Mainland Chinese were third, followed by visitors from the US, Hong Kong and Australia.
In addition to visiting Japan in greater numbers, foreigners are spending more. According to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, the number of Japan-bound tourists doubled between 1990 and 2004 while Japan’s total tourism receipts tripled, to $11.3bn (€7.6bn, £5.7bn).
Japan is a long way from beating France as the world’s top tourist destination – the latter attracts about 75m visitors a year – but the Japanese government is, nonetheless, pushing tourism as a strategic industry and has set a target of 10m visitors by 2010.
It hopes that the increase in tourist numbers will help offset chronically weak domestic consumer spending and revitalise scenic but remote parts of Japan, such as the northern island of Hokkaido, that in some cases are closer to China or South Korea than to rich and populous Tokyo.
As part of its largely Asia-focused tourism push, the government has been working with Beijing to boost air links between Japan and China. At least 20 new routes were added in 2007, according to the JNTO.
Providing that tighter immigration checks introduced late last year do not deter visitors, it appears on track to meet its goal.
Japan remains a net exporter of tourists, however. About 17.3m Japanese went abroad last year, down 1.3 per cent from 2006.
Chinese dumplings sicken 10 Japanese
Jan 30, 2008
TOKYO - Ten Japanese were sickened, including a child who fell into a coma, after eating Chinese-made dumplings contaminated with insecticide, police and health officials said Wednesday.
Three people in western Hyogo prefecture (state) and seven in Chiba prefecture near Tokyo suffered severe abdominal pains, vomiting and diarrhea after eating the frozen dumplings imported from China by a Japanese company, the Health Ministry said.
A 5-year-old girl in Chiba regained consciousness after falling into a coma, and her mother, two brothers and a sister were in serious condition, Chiba police official Masaru Hiratsu said.
Investigators found traces of an organic phosphorus insecticide called methamidophos in the dumplings, their containers and the patients' vomit, the ministry said in a statement. Authorities were attempting to determine the source of contamination.
The ministry ordered the dumplings' importer and distributor, JT Foods Co. Ltd. — an affiliate of Japan's largest tobacco company — to recall the product.
The dumplings were imported in November from Chinese manufacturer Hebei Foodstuffs Import & Export Group Tianyang Food Processing, the ministry said.
In Beijing, telephones were not answered at the General Administration for Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, which oversees the safety of China's exports. The agency's Web site made no mention of the incident.
Japan's minister in charge of food safety, Fumio Kishida, said the incident prompted "grave concerns" and vowed to take urgent measures, though he did not elaborate.
JT Foods distributed 13 tons of dumplings each in Chiba and Hyogo, the ministry said.
JT Foods voluntarily began recalling the dumplings and 22 other products imported from the Chinese company and dispatched officials to investigate the Chinese plant, JT spokeswoman Yukiko Seto said.
China's exports have come under intense scrutiny in the past year after a number of potentially deadly chemicals were found in goods including toothpaste, toys, pet food and seafood.
China's government launched a four-month campaign last August to improve the quality of Chinese products and restore international confidence in its goods. Officials termed the campaign a success.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Japan asked China to tone down Nanjing Incident exhibits
Jan 18, 2008
Takanori Kato / Yomiuri Shimbun Correspondent
In a rare move made in connection with China's memorials related to its anti-Japanese movement and the subsequent war with Japan, Japan has asked China to tone down the contents of the Memorial Hall to the Victims in the Nanjing Massacre, the top Japanese diplomat in Shanghai said Wednesday.
Consul General Yuji Kumamaru said he visited Nanjing for two days last week to meet with senior officials of the city and the memorial itself, which reopened in December after a major expansion of its exhibits, to communicate Tokyo's concern that the exhibits could inspire in Chinese visitors animosity toward Japanese by stressing the brutality of Japanese actions during the war.
It is rare for Japan to make such a public request to China concerning its memorials to the war.
Kumamaru said he conveyed the concerns as representing "the government's awareness of the issue." He made specific mention of the number of victims of the massacre--cited as 300,000 at the museum--pointing out that there are various estimates of the number of dead.
He said he told the city and museum officials that the number 300,000 is stressed more than ever at the memorial, and that China "should listen to various opinions" about the casualty figure.
The Chinese side said the exhibits in the memorial are intended to convey a message of peace, while paying due consideration toward relations with Japan, according to Kumamaru.
The memorial reopened last month to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the incident, with the indoor exhibition space expanded more than 10 times to 9,000 square meters and featuring 3,500 exhibits, including photographs of atrocities committed by the Imperial Japanese Army.
Takanori Kato / Yomiuri Shimbun Correspondent
In a rare move made in connection with China's memorials related to its anti-Japanese movement and the subsequent war with Japan, Japan has asked China to tone down the contents of the Memorial Hall to the Victims in the Nanjing Massacre, the top Japanese diplomat in Shanghai said Wednesday.
Consul General Yuji Kumamaru said he visited Nanjing for two days last week to meet with senior officials of the city and the memorial itself, which reopened in December after a major expansion of its exhibits, to communicate Tokyo's concern that the exhibits could inspire in Chinese visitors animosity toward Japanese by stressing the brutality of Japanese actions during the war.
It is rare for Japan to make such a public request to China concerning its memorials to the war.
Kumamaru said he conveyed the concerns as representing "the government's awareness of the issue." He made specific mention of the number of victims of the massacre--cited as 300,000 at the museum--pointing out that there are various estimates of the number of dead.
He said he told the city and museum officials that the number 300,000 is stressed more than ever at the memorial, and that China "should listen to various opinions" about the casualty figure.
The Chinese side said the exhibits in the memorial are intended to convey a message of peace, while paying due consideration toward relations with Japan, according to Kumamaru.
The memorial reopened last month to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the incident, with the indoor exhibition space expanded more than 10 times to 9,000 square meters and featuring 3,500 exhibits, including photographs of atrocities committed by the Imperial Japanese Army.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
China asks Japan to help block smuggling of Japanese beef
NARITA, Japan, Jan. 10 (AP) - (Kyodo)—China has asked Japan to implement appropriate measures to prevent travelers from smuggling Japanese beef into China, sources familiar with the matter said Thursday.
In an extremely rare move, the Chinese government filed the request over a food smuggling issue with the Japanese government in December, they told Kyodo News.
China banned the import of Japanese beef in September 2001 when Japan found its first suspected case of mad cow disease, or bovine spongiform encephalopathy, which is thought to cause the fatal human variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.
The Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries notified its Animal Quarantine Service offices across the country late last month to alert airlines and related entities, they said.
As China enjoys an economic boom ahead of the Beijing Olympics, the country's new rich who are conscious of food safety and health benefits are increasingly seeking out Japanese food, they said.
Among Japanese food items popular in China, beef is particularly coveted for its good taste and fetches high prices across the country, they said.
Citing a Xinhua News Agency report on its website, the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo said China's quarantine authorities seized a total of 3 tons of Japanese beef at a Shanghai airport between June and November last year.
It said some of the smugglers systemically bring in Japanese beef by hiding it in pieces of carry-on luggage.
"It is also against the Japanese law to take beef out of Japan without preliminary quarantine checks. We want to thoroughly implement the regulations through the airlines and other entities," a farm ministry official said.
In an extremely rare move, the Chinese government filed the request over a food smuggling issue with the Japanese government in December, they told Kyodo News.
China banned the import of Japanese beef in September 2001 when Japan found its first suspected case of mad cow disease, or bovine spongiform encephalopathy, which is thought to cause the fatal human variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.
The Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries notified its Animal Quarantine Service offices across the country late last month to alert airlines and related entities, they said.
As China enjoys an economic boom ahead of the Beijing Olympics, the country's new rich who are conscious of food safety and health benefits are increasingly seeking out Japanese food, they said.
Among Japanese food items popular in China, beef is particularly coveted for its good taste and fetches high prices across the country, they said.
Citing a Xinhua News Agency report on its website, the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo said China's quarantine authorities seized a total of 3 tons of Japanese beef at a Shanghai airport between June and November last year.
It said some of the smugglers systemically bring in Japanese beef by hiding it in pieces of carry-on luggage.
"It is also against the Japanese law to take beef out of Japan without preliminary quarantine checks. We want to thoroughly implement the regulations through the airlines and other entities," a farm ministry official said.
Monday, January 7, 2008
Japan to help train 10,000 Chinese on energy-saving technologies
December 28, 2007
Japan will help China train 10,000 people on energy-saving and environmental protection technologies, said visiting Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda on Friday. "Japan has accumulated a lot of experience in improving the energy efficiency that can be shared with China," said Fukuda during a speech at the prestigious Peking University. He told the students he had very candid talks with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and the topics covered a wide scope, including personnel and technological exchange. "Fortunately, Japan has started to tackle environmental problems seriously from an early date ... and is now one of the most efficient users of energy resources in the world," Fukuda said, noting his country would make every effort to assist China in this field. The two sides had already signed a cooperation document on climate change and issued a joint communique on technology transfer in the environmental and energy sectors. The training of 10,000 Chinese on energy-saving and environmental protection technologies would be completed in three years starting from 2008, according to the communique. Joint research and projects on emission cutting, greenhouse reduction and sandstorm control would also be improved. Japan would help China check and upgrade energy-saving technologies in the steel, cement and thermal power industries. The two sides would also cooperate in water pollution control in major river valleys, such as the Yangtze, and in the new city development mode based on the "recycled economy", it said. The two sides would strengthen cooperation in forestry administration as well as wild training and nature returning of crested ibises so as to help maintain bio-diversity in the Asia-Pacific region and in the world, it said. The document on climate change featured exchanges of related scientific technologies, with about 50 Chinese young researchers to be invited to visit Japan annually in the following four years. Cooperation in scientific technologies, part of the joint efforts to build the "strategic and mutually beneficial China-Japan relations", could play a key role in coping with climate change as they may help cut waste, promote energy recycling and develop new energy resources, the document said. Premier Wen held talks with Fukuda for 2.5 hours on Friday morning and the two witnessed the signing of three cooperation documents in fields of youth exchange, technical cooperation on climate change, and a new joint research on magnetic fusion energy. Fukuda arrived in Beijing on Thursday afternoon for the start of an official visit which runs through Sunday.
Source: Xinhua
Japan will help China train 10,000 people on energy-saving and environmental protection technologies, said visiting Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda on Friday. "Japan has accumulated a lot of experience in improving the energy efficiency that can be shared with China," said Fukuda during a speech at the prestigious Peking University. He told the students he had very candid talks with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and the topics covered a wide scope, including personnel and technological exchange. "Fortunately, Japan has started to tackle environmental problems seriously from an early date ... and is now one of the most efficient users of energy resources in the world," Fukuda said, noting his country would make every effort to assist China in this field. The two sides had already signed a cooperation document on climate change and issued a joint communique on technology transfer in the environmental and energy sectors. The training of 10,000 Chinese on energy-saving and environmental protection technologies would be completed in three years starting from 2008, according to the communique. Joint research and projects on emission cutting, greenhouse reduction and sandstorm control would also be improved. Japan would help China check and upgrade energy-saving technologies in the steel, cement and thermal power industries. The two sides would also cooperate in water pollution control in major river valleys, such as the Yangtze, and in the new city development mode based on the "recycled economy", it said. The two sides would strengthen cooperation in forestry administration as well as wild training and nature returning of crested ibises so as to help maintain bio-diversity in the Asia-Pacific region and in the world, it said. The document on climate change featured exchanges of related scientific technologies, with about 50 Chinese young researchers to be invited to visit Japan annually in the following four years. Cooperation in scientific technologies, part of the joint efforts to build the "strategic and mutually beneficial China-Japan relations", could play a key role in coping with climate change as they may help cut waste, promote energy recycling and develop new energy resources, the document said. Premier Wen held talks with Fukuda for 2.5 hours on Friday morning and the two witnessed the signing of three cooperation documents in fields of youth exchange, technical cooperation on climate change, and a new joint research on magnetic fusion energy. Fukuda arrived in Beijing on Thursday afternoon for the start of an official visit which runs through Sunday.
Source: Xinhua
Japan to buy China rights on emissions / ODA projects to help fulfill Kyoto targets
The Yomiuri Shimbun
The Japanese and Chinese governments reached a basic agreement Wednesday under which the Japanese government and domestic firms would purchase a portion of China's greenhouse gas emissions quotas that fall under reductions achieved by the country through Japanese yen-loan projects, The Yomiuri Shimbun has learned.
The two nations will seek formal agreement on the matter during Chinese President Hu Jintao's visit to Japan, scheduled for late March. The move is seen as a major boost for Japan's efforts to meet its emissions targets under the Kyoto Protocol.
The envisaged scheme is part of the clean development Mechanism (CDM), under which industrialized countries are able to use their own technologies and funds for projects based in developing countries to cut greenhouse gas emissions and offset these reductions against their own output.
On the issue of emissions trading involving Japan's official development assistance, a senior official of the Chinese National Development and Reform Commission unofficially suggested that Beijing would, in principle, accept the scheme during the 13th session of the Conference of the Parties to Climate Change Convention (COP13) held in December in Bali, Indonesia.
The commission is responsible for deciding whether to accept yen-loans.
After reaching a formal agreement, the two governments will select the yen-loan projects for which the emissions trading scheme would apply, after which the CDM board of directors will screen the selected projects for approval.
Among Japan's yen-loan projects, which started in fiscal 1980, 100, or about 30 percent of the total, are environment-related projects.
Six future yen-loan projects agreed for China in the current fiscal year include a project in Lanzhou, Gansu Province, that will replace existing small boilers with concentrated facilities for supplying heat, in an effort to improve air quality.
Such projects are expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, with the government estimating the six projects could make it possible to trade emissions quotas totaling 10 million tons to 15 million tons over the next five years.
Although prices for greenhouse gas emission credits have not been disclosed, they were traded for between 5 dollars and 20 dollars, or between 585 yen and 2,340 yen, per ton, in 2005 in the European Union.
The electric generation and steel industries, which emit large amounts of green house gases, have been asked to substantially increase emissions cuts.
The Kyoto Protocol to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change obliges Japan to cut greenhouse gas emissions by an average 6 percent, or about 76 million tons, from the level in 1990 for the period between 2008 and 2012. The government is considering purchasing emission credits from overseas through CDM-based schemes and others, which are equivalent to 20 million tons a year.
(Jan. 3, 2008)
The Japanese and Chinese governments reached a basic agreement Wednesday under which the Japanese government and domestic firms would purchase a portion of China's greenhouse gas emissions quotas that fall under reductions achieved by the country through Japanese yen-loan projects, The Yomiuri Shimbun has learned.
The two nations will seek formal agreement on the matter during Chinese President Hu Jintao's visit to Japan, scheduled for late March. The move is seen as a major boost for Japan's efforts to meet its emissions targets under the Kyoto Protocol.
The envisaged scheme is part of the clean development Mechanism (CDM), under which industrialized countries are able to use their own technologies and funds for projects based in developing countries to cut greenhouse gas emissions and offset these reductions against their own output.
On the issue of emissions trading involving Japan's official development assistance, a senior official of the Chinese National Development and Reform Commission unofficially suggested that Beijing would, in principle, accept the scheme during the 13th session of the Conference of the Parties to Climate Change Convention (COP13) held in December in Bali, Indonesia.
The commission is responsible for deciding whether to accept yen-loans.
After reaching a formal agreement, the two governments will select the yen-loan projects for which the emissions trading scheme would apply, after which the CDM board of directors will screen the selected projects for approval.
Among Japan's yen-loan projects, which started in fiscal 1980, 100, or about 30 percent of the total, are environment-related projects.
Six future yen-loan projects agreed for China in the current fiscal year include a project in Lanzhou, Gansu Province, that will replace existing small boilers with concentrated facilities for supplying heat, in an effort to improve air quality.
Such projects are expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, with the government estimating the six projects could make it possible to trade emissions quotas totaling 10 million tons to 15 million tons over the next five years.
Although prices for greenhouse gas emission credits have not been disclosed, they were traded for between 5 dollars and 20 dollars, or between 585 yen and 2,340 yen, per ton, in 2005 in the European Union.
The electric generation and steel industries, which emit large amounts of green house gases, have been asked to substantially increase emissions cuts.
The Kyoto Protocol to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change obliges Japan to cut greenhouse gas emissions by an average 6 percent, or about 76 million tons, from the level in 1990 for the period between 2008 and 2012. The government is considering purchasing emission credits from overseas through CDM-based schemes and others, which are equivalent to 20 million tons a year.
(Jan. 3, 2008)
Combining ODA, CDM for mutual aid
Yuichi Suzuki / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writer
Against the backdrop of China's acceptance of greenhouse gas emissions trading involving Japan's official development assistance (ODA), yen loans to China are to be terminated as of the end of fiscal 2007.
China had opposed the idea, saying that if the country allows the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) to be applied to ODA projects, then use of ODA funds will be limited to environmental projects, and this could reduce the money available for roads and bridges.
Under the CDM, industrialized countries are able to reach emission-trading agreements whereby they would offset the reduction targets they have set by buying some of the carbon dioxide emission reductions achieved by developing countries.
With the end of new yen loans, China will have no reason to object to applying the CDM scheme to ODA projects.
Instead, China will have a good opportunity to demonstrate the country is aggressively combating global warming because the amount of greenhouse gas emissions reduction is to be officially announced with specific figures, a senior Foreign Ministry official said.
Ahead of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, China also will be able to deflect global criticism as it has been tarred as a developing nation with little regard for environmental protection.
Meanwhile, the Japanese government considers it a matter of some urgency for the country to come up with a CO2 emissions reduction goal under the Kyoto Protocol framework.
Wednesday's broad agreement reached by the two governments on applying the the CDM scheme to ODA projects is to be applied to reductions achieved through yen loan projects and the Japanese government and companies therefore are expected to have preferential rights to purchase the emission reductions from China.
Analysts said the deal would be a favorable one also for Japan.
The Japanese government is considering using a special account for energy measures to purchase the emission reductions.
However, some in the government and the ruling parties remain critical. "It will become double assistance to China if Japan purchases the emission reductions from the country to which Japan provided ODA," a former cabinet minister said.
The Japanese government as well as the nation's industrial community must continue doing their best to cut domestic greenhouse gas emissions to achieve the goal set under the Kyoto Protocol without undue reliance on the recently approved arrangement.
(Jan. 4, 2008)
Against the backdrop of China's acceptance of greenhouse gas emissions trading involving Japan's official development assistance (ODA), yen loans to China are to be terminated as of the end of fiscal 2007.
China had opposed the idea, saying that if the country allows the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) to be applied to ODA projects, then use of ODA funds will be limited to environmental projects, and this could reduce the money available for roads and bridges.
Under the CDM, industrialized countries are able to reach emission-trading agreements whereby they would offset the reduction targets they have set by buying some of the carbon dioxide emission reductions achieved by developing countries.
With the end of new yen loans, China will have no reason to object to applying the CDM scheme to ODA projects.
Instead, China will have a good opportunity to demonstrate the country is aggressively combating global warming because the amount of greenhouse gas emissions reduction is to be officially announced with specific figures, a senior Foreign Ministry official said.
Ahead of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, China also will be able to deflect global criticism as it has been tarred as a developing nation with little regard for environmental protection.
Meanwhile, the Japanese government considers it a matter of some urgency for the country to come up with a CO2 emissions reduction goal under the Kyoto Protocol framework.
Wednesday's broad agreement reached by the two governments on applying the the CDM scheme to ODA projects is to be applied to reductions achieved through yen loan projects and the Japanese government and companies therefore are expected to have preferential rights to purchase the emission reductions from China.
Analysts said the deal would be a favorable one also for Japan.
The Japanese government is considering using a special account for energy measures to purchase the emission reductions.
However, some in the government and the ruling parties remain critical. "It will become double assistance to China if Japan purchases the emission reductions from the country to which Japan provided ODA," a former cabinet minister said.
The Japanese government as well as the nation's industrial community must continue doing their best to cut domestic greenhouse gas emissions to achieve the goal set under the Kyoto Protocol without undue reliance on the recently approved arrangement.
(Jan. 4, 2008)
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Can Sino-Japanese ties usher in leap forward era?
January 03, 2008
Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda ended his historic, four-day China trip on the eve of the new year that was crowned with a rip-roaring success. Wherever he went during his visit, either in the national capital Beijing, or in the north China industrial city of Tianjin and Qufu in eastern Shandong province, he was accorded a hearty welcome from all walks of life in Chinese society.At the end of all-round, in-depth bilateral talks by leaders of both nations, China and Japan reached a series of cooperation agreements in such fields as climate change, environmental protection, energy research and youth exchange. These accords map out a new blueprint for Sino-Japanese friendly contacts and cooperation.Both sides formally announced President Hu Jintao's visit to Japan in late March, when cherry blossom is in full bloom. So this upcoming Japan visit of Hu's is sure to be a "spring-warming trip" that will warm up bilateral ties further still.Prime Minister Fukuda's excellent speech delivered at prestigious Beijing University, which was aired live on nationwide TV networks last Friday or on Nov. 30, as if a "whirlwind' risen in the Chinese capital, would blow off some negative impressions Japan has left on Chinese youths in recent years. Blessing (or good fortune) has arrived, said Yasuo Fukuda naturally and at ease, betraying his sense of humor, openness and a good faith.The "creative partnership (with China)" forged on the basis of substantiating the "strategic and mutually beneficial ties, he proposed, displays the creativeness, vigor and vitality in itself. Prime Minister Fukuda traveled to the birthplace of Confucius (551-479 B.C.), a top ancient philosopher, education and founder of Confucianism. as he stressed the common interests and shared values of both nations; people here cannot but feel that Prime Minister Fukuda has really come to seek the common ground (or consesus) and amity since he has worked wholeheartedly to "break new trails while recalling and restudying the past."In his talks with Premier Wan Jiabao, the Japanese leader for the first time explicitly stated four "NOs" on the Taiwan issue in a bid to enhance the mutual trust of the two nations. Prime Minister Fukuda noted that the Japanese side will give no support to the claim of "one China, one Taiwan," "Taiwan Independence," or Taiwan authorities' attempt to join the U.N." and Taiwan's referendum for the UN bid. Although the wording "no support" is somewhat weaker than "in opposition to", it, after all, gives expression to the "NO" attitude with respect to "Taiwan Independence" and Taiwan authorities" attempt to join the UN."Prime Minister Fukuda said during his trip of "ringing in the spring" that he came to China with a wish to turn 2008 into the first year of the leap forward for bilateral ties. This indicates the common aspiration of people of insight in Japan: People should neither be contented with the status quo of bilateral ties, nor let them retrogress, but to take 2008 as a pivot to take giant steps forward.This is because, on the one hand, the political relations between the two nations were cold or liukewarm in recent years and so Japan's national interest was impaired to a grave extent and, on the other hand, the relations of mutual dependence is penetrating into bilateral ties and the year 2008 was cited as "a very rare opportunity" for the growth of such ties, as it marks the 30th anniversary of a Sino-Japanese friendship and peace treaty as well as the 35th anniversary of the normalization of China-Japan ties. Perhaps, this is precisely where the essence or the true meaning of the current surging tide of the times lies, which Prime Minister Fukuda had underlined time and again during his visit.Nevertheless, two points have to be mad crystal-clear on Sino-Japanese ties: First, the existing Sino-Japanese ties are in a state of being tepid politically and not brisk economically. To date, Sino-Japanese trade expands at a rate far below an average annual growth range for China's external trade; Japan's direct investment in China has gone down more than 20 percent for the past two years owing to the devaluation of Japanese yen and other related factors, and a sense of proximity between the two nations is yet to be restored.Second, With the warmed-up bilateral political ties that are owed directly to two domestic and external structural changes, Japan's parties both in power and in opposition all support the improvement of its relations with China, and the right-wing forces have been marginalized in the Japanese circle. Internationally, China and Japan can increase their friendship and cooperation, free from any obstruction from any global power. The close attention, however, still needs to be attached to the issue of how the political situation in Japan and in the world at large would evolve in the years ahead. As long as the two vital situations impacting Japan are not reversed, and stability and development is maintained in China, it is quite possible for bilateral ties to ring in a new period of leaps and bounds through the concerted efforts of both sides.By Professor Liu Jiangyong with the Institute of International Studies under prestigious Tsinghua University in Beijing and translated by People's Daily Online
Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda ended his historic, four-day China trip on the eve of the new year that was crowned with a rip-roaring success. Wherever he went during his visit, either in the national capital Beijing, or in the north China industrial city of Tianjin and Qufu in eastern Shandong province, he was accorded a hearty welcome from all walks of life in Chinese society.At the end of all-round, in-depth bilateral talks by leaders of both nations, China and Japan reached a series of cooperation agreements in such fields as climate change, environmental protection, energy research and youth exchange. These accords map out a new blueprint for Sino-Japanese friendly contacts and cooperation.Both sides formally announced President Hu Jintao's visit to Japan in late March, when cherry blossom is in full bloom. So this upcoming Japan visit of Hu's is sure to be a "spring-warming trip" that will warm up bilateral ties further still.Prime Minister Fukuda's excellent speech delivered at prestigious Beijing University, which was aired live on nationwide TV networks last Friday or on Nov. 30, as if a "whirlwind' risen in the Chinese capital, would blow off some negative impressions Japan has left on Chinese youths in recent years. Blessing (or good fortune) has arrived, said Yasuo Fukuda naturally and at ease, betraying his sense of humor, openness and a good faith.The "creative partnership (with China)" forged on the basis of substantiating the "strategic and mutually beneficial ties, he proposed, displays the creativeness, vigor and vitality in itself. Prime Minister Fukuda traveled to the birthplace of Confucius (551-479 B.C.), a top ancient philosopher, education and founder of Confucianism. as he stressed the common interests and shared values of both nations; people here cannot but feel that Prime Minister Fukuda has really come to seek the common ground (or consesus) and amity since he has worked wholeheartedly to "break new trails while recalling and restudying the past."In his talks with Premier Wan Jiabao, the Japanese leader for the first time explicitly stated four "NOs" on the Taiwan issue in a bid to enhance the mutual trust of the two nations. Prime Minister Fukuda noted that the Japanese side will give no support to the claim of "one China, one Taiwan," "Taiwan Independence," or Taiwan authorities' attempt to join the U.N." and Taiwan's referendum for the UN bid. Although the wording "no support" is somewhat weaker than "in opposition to", it, after all, gives expression to the "NO" attitude with respect to "Taiwan Independence" and Taiwan authorities" attempt to join the UN."Prime Minister Fukuda said during his trip of "ringing in the spring" that he came to China with a wish to turn 2008 into the first year of the leap forward for bilateral ties. This indicates the common aspiration of people of insight in Japan: People should neither be contented with the status quo of bilateral ties, nor let them retrogress, but to take 2008 as a pivot to take giant steps forward.This is because, on the one hand, the political relations between the two nations were cold or liukewarm in recent years and so Japan's national interest was impaired to a grave extent and, on the other hand, the relations of mutual dependence is penetrating into bilateral ties and the year 2008 was cited as "a very rare opportunity" for the growth of such ties, as it marks the 30th anniversary of a Sino-Japanese friendship and peace treaty as well as the 35th anniversary of the normalization of China-Japan ties. Perhaps, this is precisely where the essence or the true meaning of the current surging tide of the times lies, which Prime Minister Fukuda had underlined time and again during his visit.Nevertheless, two points have to be mad crystal-clear on Sino-Japanese ties: First, the existing Sino-Japanese ties are in a state of being tepid politically and not brisk economically. To date, Sino-Japanese trade expands at a rate far below an average annual growth range for China's external trade; Japan's direct investment in China has gone down more than 20 percent for the past two years owing to the devaluation of Japanese yen and other related factors, and a sense of proximity between the two nations is yet to be restored.Second, With the warmed-up bilateral political ties that are owed directly to two domestic and external structural changes, Japan's parties both in power and in opposition all support the improvement of its relations with China, and the right-wing forces have been marginalized in the Japanese circle. Internationally, China and Japan can increase their friendship and cooperation, free from any obstruction from any global power. The close attention, however, still needs to be attached to the issue of how the political situation in Japan and in the world at large would evolve in the years ahead. As long as the two vital situations impacting Japan are not reversed, and stability and development is maintained in China, it is quite possible for bilateral ties to ring in a new period of leaps and bounds through the concerted efforts of both sides.By Professor Liu Jiangyong with the Institute of International Studies under prestigious Tsinghua University in Beijing and translated by People's Daily Online
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Japan, China pledge warmer ties, but no deal on gas fields
Fri Dec 28, 12:22 PM ET
BEIJING (AFP) - China and Japan pledged on Friday to build on their rapidly warming ties, as Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda met the Chinese leadership, but a dispute over maritime gas fields remained unresolved.
Fukuda, on his first visit to China since taking office in September, held talks with President Hu Jintao to lay the groundwork for closer cooperation between the Asian powers in trade, climate change and other fields.
"Since taking office, you have emphasised the importance of friendship between China and Japan," Hu told Fukuda at the meeting.
"I believe your visit here will further build on" the warming bilateral ties, he said.
Fukuda's visit to Beijing would have been unthinkable just a few years ago, when China and Japan had no top-level contacts at all in what was a major cause of tension in Asia.
China cut high-level ties with Japan during the 2001-2006 premiership of Junichiro Koizumi due to his visits to Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine, which venerates war criminals who invaded China, alongside another 2.5 million war dead.
But Fukuda and his predecessor, Shinzo Abe, have stayed away from the shrine, paving the way for the dramatic thaw in bilateral relations that will be capped when Chinese President Hu Jintao visits Japan next year.
Fukuda earlier on the day held lengthy talks with Premier Wen Jiabao and Wu Bangguo, the number-two leader in the Chinese Communist Party.
"There have indeed been various problems in the relationship between Japan and China. But it is time for us to overcome these problems and push forward the development of our relationship," Fukuda told reporters after meeting Wen.
Fukuda said the two nations had made progress in finding a resolution to their competing claims to lucrative gas fields in the East China Sea.
"We shared a determination to solve this problem at an early stage. We will try to swiftly solve this issue," Fukuda said in comments echoed by Wen.
But no specifics about any compromise from either side or a timeframe for a resolution of the dispute were made public. Before heading to Beijing on Thursday, Fukuda had voiced hope for a breakthrough on the issue.
Eleven rounds of negotiations on the gas fields since 2004 have made little progress, with China rejecting the maritime border which Japan considers a starting point for discussions.
Speaking in Tokyo on Friday, Japanese Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura said there were still major differences between the two nations on the issue.
"China has shown some understanding of Japan's principles, but I don't feel we've been able to get over the remaining problems," Komura told reporters.
Fukuda, who arrived on Thursday for a four-day trip, is due to travel to the economic hub of Tianjin on Saturday to look at Japanese investments there.
Japan is the biggest foreign investor in China and trade between the two nations was worth 207.35 billion dollars last year, up 12.4 percent from 2005.
The nations also on Friday signed an agreement that would see Japan help China work to combat global warming.
Japan will invite about 50 Chinese researchers each year over the next four years to be trained in the technology and science of fighting climate change.
In another effort to boost engagement and deepen trust between the two sides, Fukuda announced Japan would send a warship to China next year.
And in an apparent move to placate China, Fukuda said he would not support Taiwan's planned referendum on United Nations membership.
"We don't want a situation in which Taiwan's referendum leads to tensions between (Taiwan and China)," he said.
Fukuda and Wen also discussed the efforts to end North Korea's nuclear programmes, but they made no major statement afterwards about the disarmament process.
BEIJING (AFP) - China and Japan pledged on Friday to build on their rapidly warming ties, as Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda met the Chinese leadership, but a dispute over maritime gas fields remained unresolved.
Fukuda, on his first visit to China since taking office in September, held talks with President Hu Jintao to lay the groundwork for closer cooperation between the Asian powers in trade, climate change and other fields.
"Since taking office, you have emphasised the importance of friendship between China and Japan," Hu told Fukuda at the meeting.
"I believe your visit here will further build on" the warming bilateral ties, he said.
Fukuda's visit to Beijing would have been unthinkable just a few years ago, when China and Japan had no top-level contacts at all in what was a major cause of tension in Asia.
China cut high-level ties with Japan during the 2001-2006 premiership of Junichiro Koizumi due to his visits to Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine, which venerates war criminals who invaded China, alongside another 2.5 million war dead.
But Fukuda and his predecessor, Shinzo Abe, have stayed away from the shrine, paving the way for the dramatic thaw in bilateral relations that will be capped when Chinese President Hu Jintao visits Japan next year.
Fukuda earlier on the day held lengthy talks with Premier Wen Jiabao and Wu Bangguo, the number-two leader in the Chinese Communist Party.
"There have indeed been various problems in the relationship between Japan and China. But it is time for us to overcome these problems and push forward the development of our relationship," Fukuda told reporters after meeting Wen.
Fukuda said the two nations had made progress in finding a resolution to their competing claims to lucrative gas fields in the East China Sea.
"We shared a determination to solve this problem at an early stage. We will try to swiftly solve this issue," Fukuda said in comments echoed by Wen.
But no specifics about any compromise from either side or a timeframe for a resolution of the dispute were made public. Before heading to Beijing on Thursday, Fukuda had voiced hope for a breakthrough on the issue.
Eleven rounds of negotiations on the gas fields since 2004 have made little progress, with China rejecting the maritime border which Japan considers a starting point for discussions.
Speaking in Tokyo on Friday, Japanese Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura said there were still major differences between the two nations on the issue.
"China has shown some understanding of Japan's principles, but I don't feel we've been able to get over the remaining problems," Komura told reporters.
Fukuda, who arrived on Thursday for a four-day trip, is due to travel to the economic hub of Tianjin on Saturday to look at Japanese investments there.
Japan is the biggest foreign investor in China and trade between the two nations was worth 207.35 billion dollars last year, up 12.4 percent from 2005.
The nations also on Friday signed an agreement that would see Japan help China work to combat global warming.
Japan will invite about 50 Chinese researchers each year over the next four years to be trained in the technology and science of fighting climate change.
In another effort to boost engagement and deepen trust between the two sides, Fukuda announced Japan would send a warship to China next year.
And in an apparent move to placate China, Fukuda said he would not support Taiwan's planned referendum on United Nations membership.
"We don't want a situation in which Taiwan's referendum leads to tensions between (Taiwan and China)," he said.
Fukuda and Wen also discussed the efforts to end North Korea's nuclear programmes, but they made no major statement afterwards about the disarmament process.
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Fukuda plays catch with Wen
Saturday, December 29, 2007BEIJING — Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda played a game of catch with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Saturday, in what is perhaps a symbolic move on the warming of their countries' ties, a day after agreeing to build on recent improvements in relations.
Fukuda, dressed in a white baseball uniform and a red cap, threw and caught baseballs in a gymnasium at Beijing's Diaoyutai State Guesthouse with Wen, also in a red cap and a gray baseball uniform. The event was squeezed into Fukuda's schedule after the Japanese prime minister made a request to Wen in a light moment during their talks on Friday. Wen, who wore a Ritsumeikan uniform during the game, arrived in the gymnasium first, and jogged for warm-up. The game between the two leaders — Fukuda is 71 years old, Wen is 65 — lasted about five minutes.
Saturday, December 29, 2007
BEIJING — Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda treaded carefully over the sensitive issue of Taiwan in his talks with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Friday, withholding support for a March referendum by the self-ruled island, but stopping short of opposing it outright.
The comments by Fukuda on the plebiscite — which will ask voters whether they support Taipei's entry into the United Nations under the name "Taiwan" — came amid Beijing's strong opposition to it, which it views as a provocative assertion of sovereignty. "We do not wish tensions to increase in the cross-strait situation over the referendum," Fukuda told a press conference after his meeting with Wen. "I told Premier Wen that we cannot support this if it is to lead to a unilateral change in the current situation," he added.
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