i know it's a few days old but...........

Beijing warms up to Koizumi successors


02/20/2006

By SHINYA MINAMISHIMA, and KENGO SAKAJIRI

The Asahi Shimbun

Even as Tokyo-Beijing relations strain under Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's visits to war-linked Yasukuni Shrine, Chinese officials have quietly begun to meet prominent ruling party lawmakers to discuss mutual problems.

It's a sign Beijing wants warmer relations after Koizumi steps down in September, analysts said.

This week, Hidenao Nakagawa, chairman of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's Policy Research Council, is expected to be well received in China. He and others in a delegation of ruling coalition lawmakers left Sunday for a five-day visit, including talks with top Chinese Communist Party leaders.

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I think China should make one point very clear to the visiting Japanese envoy. China is no longer the China from the 1930s.

I don't have any hope for relations to warm up under the current or the next Japanese leadership. Relations will remain chilled at best.

its like walking by a gradeschool bully in highschool. can you feel the tension!?!?

a sign that china is trying to make a face saving and dignified move to build ties with japan