TOP > Events/News > Mr. Koreshige Anami, former Japanese Ambassador to China, gave a lecture to JDS Fellows.
On Tuesday 19 September, Koreshige Anami, the former Japanese ambassador to China, had a special lecture on the recent situation in China and the relations between our two countries. Even though the issues were critical and sensitive, there was a relaxed atmosphere at the lecture, maybe because of a friendly relationship he has with Professor Takahashi, one of the lecture's organizers. Mr. Anami said they have maintained their relationship since Professor Takahashi was at Columbia University for his doctoral course.
Mr. Anami had been appointed to the position of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Embassy to China in January, 2001. Under the Koizumi cabinet, which started in April of that year, he served for 5 years until March 2006. This means he was responsible in China during the time when there was stress on the relationship of both countries. Also, the length of his term of service was exceptionally long.
In his lecture, Mr. Anami discussed not only recent issues but also his ideas about China and his aspiration toward students and youth. His talk made an impression particularly for the picture he painted of atmosphere of relations between diplomats in China and Japan. He feels diplomats have tried to have heart-to-heart communications with each other more than they have the past. It was also impressive due to the message he sent to students and the younger generations. Mr. Anami closed the lecture with the message that it is important for students and youth to have contact with Chinese and develop friendly relations. He mentioned that the role of students is not only studying and discussing relations between China and Japan, but also expanding new frontiers for Japan-China relations through genuine communication.
If we only look at China from a bird's-eye view, it is impossible to understand it due to its diversity including size, population, and language. I consider China one of the countries that cannot be subjected to a single uniform explanation.
Including complications which have always been present, today there is also the socialist market economy and the fact that those who are in positions of political leadership may not truly understand the actual situation. In order to approach such a China, we must work to analyze it from as many aspects as possible, and understand it more precisely.
The People's Republic of China was established in 1949 and has a history of more than 60 years. This history can divided into two periods. The first 30 years are the period of the revolution and were led by Mao Tse-Tong. The later period, which continues today, is the period of construction led by Deng Xioping.
The former is based on the idea of a "Continuing Revolution" which insists that revolution is necessary, even after the communist state is established. However, in the period of Continuing Revolution, economic growth could not be satisfactorily accomplished.
The later "period of construction" began with the introduction of Deng Xiaoping's "Reform and Opening Up Policy" in 1978. With this policy, a relatively flexible economy was introduced under a socialist regime and capital income from the West was accepted.
As is evident from the present Chinese situation, the "period of construction" has experienced rapid economic growth. As a result, the standard of living has improved in some urban areas, but also China has faced adverse effects including widening regional differences in employment, security issues in production sites (for example, coal mines) and environmental issues. Furthermore, the effects of a lack of systems for introduction of a market economy (i.e., Act of Bankruptcy) and immaturity of people's attitude toward market issues have become increasingly severe.
Faced with these recent issues, the government promoted slogans for "building harmonious society" for National Economic and Social Development which were released in March of this year. To interpret these slogans critically, it implies that the modern China faces a division in its society.
Additionally, the current administration needs to address various issues including environmental deterioration, criticisms from the excluded people from benefits of economic development, and difficulties of communication due to the country's size.
Various tasks lie ahead such as absorbing public discontent and abolition of corruption caused by a prolonged single-party regime (as can be observed in the Soviet Union). However, hope also can be seen in China. Most prominently, the country is seeing a rise of new leaders. In top ranking positions in various ministries, particularly in Suzhou and Wuxi, people from younger generations have been appointed as leaders of local governments. This tendency can be regarded as a sign that prospective leaders for China are surely and steadily to arise and that China has succeeded to develop leaders from coming generations.
As regards Japan-China relations, these have been more or less maintained for 2000 years. (This has become evident from the excavation of ancient Chinese coins in archeological digs.) In recent history, we have been faced with the Sino-Japanese War, post-war issues, and the Chinese Civil War.
The Japanese relationship with The Republic of China had been friendly in 80s, after the normalization of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 1978, and introduction of ODA to China in 1979.
However, because of a crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators at Tiananmen Square, China faced worldwide bankruptcy of its national image. Since around that time, Japan-China relations began to crumble.
Relations are politically sensitive because of the Yasukuni and history textbook issues. It is widely alleged that now is the time of the worst relations between our two countries. However, in my opinion, there absolutely exist several aspects about which we can have hope. Today, trade has expanded and personal change developed quantitatively and qualitatively. Also, from my experience as a diplomat, I can say that communications in diplomacy have improved recently. In former years, both diplomats tended to discuss in terms of principals, but today, discussions are based on heart-to heart communication. I feel both sides have come to have genuine discussions both formally and informally.
Finally, I would like to tell you about my hopes. At this precise moment, it is undeniable that the future directions of the both countries are vague. China faces the new challenges I previously mentioned, and Japan is faced with a time for changing its administration. Because the present is the time of such a clouded prospects, I would like the young people of both sides to communicate with each other naturally, without any lingering political or other agenda. Some may reply to this, "Do you intend to keep these problems unresolved?" Of course, that is not my intension, but I dare to say that what is important is to be genuine with each other on a private level, in the field which is not related to greater interest. It is not too late to discuss these issues after becoming genuine with one another.
In order to do this, youth and students are in the best position. So I think, local and private level interaction should expand. Since today, Japan-China relations are mostly based on politics, but it has deteriorated. So deepening the relations on a private level or to expand apolitical relationships, are important for our futures.
My message to students here is:
Please make an effort to communicate with the young people of China. If we can become closer, we can talk about our genuine intentions.
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