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