PRC EMBASSY ON JAPAN-CHINA TIES, NEW CHINESE

C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 003871

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/21/2027
TAGS: PGOV CH JA
SUBJECT: PRC EMBASSY ON JAPAN-CHINA TIES, NEW CHINESE
AMBASSADOR


Classified By: Acting Charge d'Affairs Joseph R. Donovan for reasons 1.
4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: Beijing is refraining from raising
disputes on history with Tokyo in a bid to continue the
warming trend in relations, Chinese EMBASSY Political Officer
told an EMBASSY Tokyo Political Officer on August 17. Should
Japan decide to "rewrite history," however, China would have
no choice but to object. Beijing was pleased Prime Minster
Abe did not visit Yasukuni Shrine on August 15. Barring
extensive media coverage, China will not make an official
comment in response to Abe's meeting with relatives of former
Tokyo War Crime Tribunal Judge Pal in India on August 23, she
said. Turning to personnel changes at the Chinese Embassy,
the Chinese Political Officer said that Chinese Vice Minister
of Foreign Affairs Cui Tiankai will likely replace Ambassador
to Japan Wang Yi in September. End Summary.


2. (C) For the sake of bilateral ties and for the time
being, China is "quietly setting aside differences on
history," Chinese EMBASSY Political Section Second Secretary
Chen Zhiwen told EMBASSY Tokyo on August 17. That said, the
PRC will be forced to reverse course if Japan decides to
"rewrite history, she stressed. Beijing was very pleased
Prime Minister Abe did not visit Yasukuni Shrine on August 15
and interpreted it as a signal of Abe's long-term commitment
to improving relations.


3. (C) Furthermore, China will not make an official comment
in response to Abe's meeting in India this week with the son
of Justice Pal, the only judge on the Tokyo War Crimes
Tribunal to vote for the acquittal of the Japanese
defendants, unless it garners a lot of media attention, Chen
continued. "Frankly, most Chinese citizens do not know who
Justice Pal was, and will be unaware of the visit," she
explained. (Note: A stone monument honoring Pal was erected
at Yasukuni Shrine in 2005. There is media speculation that
Abe's meeting with Pal could increase tension between Japan
and China. It seemed Chen may not be aware of the Pal
monument at Yasukuni Shrine. She noted that the Chinese
government prohibits Chinese diplomats and government
officials from visiting the shrine and professed amazement
that American officials would be "allowed" to even make a
personal visit to the shrine or adjacent Yushukan museum.
End Note.)


4. (C) Bilateral exchanges among government officials are
reshaping Chinese bureaucratic views of Japan and are
boosting Japan's image back in Beijing, Chen observed. For
example, she recently met with Chinese officials
participating in a Japanese government-funded exchange
program. Chen reported that the Chinese participants happily
described how their perceptions of Japanese people changed
from negative to positive due to the warm reception and
everyday kindness on the part of local Japanese.

Personnel Changes at Chinese EMBASSY
--------------
5 (C) Chinese Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Cui Tiankai
will replace Ambassador to Japan Wang Yi before Chinese
National Day on October 1, and an official announcement will
likely be sometime in September, Chen said. Cui speaks
excellent English but is not fluent in Japanese. He prefers
to hold meetings one-on-one, and Chinese EMBASSY officials
wonder if his Japanese counterparts speak enough English to
get by without an interpreter. Chen noted that Cui Tian Kai
dislikes sports but loves to sing karaoke. He has lived in
the United States, speaks excellent English and has the
reputation for being an "ace diplomat." (Bio Note: Current
Chinese Ambassador to Tokyo Wang Yi has interpreter-level
Japanese and enjoys golf. End Bio Note.)
DONOVAN