JAPAN-CHINA JOINT HISTORY PROJECT: AN EFFORT TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 000537 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/02/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV CH KN KS JA SUBJECT: JAPAN-CHINA JOINT HISTORY PROJECT: AN EFFORT TO MOVE BEYOND HISTORICAL ISSUES TOKYO 00000537 001.3 OF 002 Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer. Reasons 1.4 (b),(d). ¶1. (C) Summary. Historians from Japan and China will meet a second time in March to address differences in how they view their shared history. Neither side expects to resolve contentious issues, but hope to narrow gaps in understanding, according to Professor Shinichi Kitaoka, who chairs the Japanese team. He also recognizes that when the project concludes in June 2008, the two sides may simply "agree to disagree," but hopes the endeavor will help smooth the way to move beyond historical issues and strengthen ties. End summary. ¶2. (C) The new Sino-Japan joint history study project is an important step in moving beyond historical issues to improve bilateral ties, University of Tokyo Professor Shinichi Kitaoka told Tokyo Embassy officers on January 26. Kitaoka, who was also involved in the recently completed ROK-Japan history study project, will head the Japanese team in the new China-Japan project. Kitaoka explained that former Foreign Minister Machimura initially proposed the joint study following the April 2005 anti-Japan demonstrations in China, but Beijing did not accept the proposal until PM SHINZO Abe's conciliatory visit to China in October 2006. Japan hopes the project will help bridge differing interpretations of history so Japan and China can move forward on strengthening bilateral cooperation, Kitaoka emphasized. ¶3. (C) China has the lead on choosing the format for the project, Kitaoka said. Japan is taking a flexible position "since it was the aggressor," Kitaoka explained, adding there is no denying the fact that Japan killed many Chinese people after it invaded China. While Japan will be flexible on the format, it cannot compromise on historical facts, he added. For example, there is still a heated dispute over the total number of Chinese who died during the Nanjing massacre, and a final number will be difficult to establish, Kitaoka Said. Japan is open to conducting a trilateral history study, because the impartial views of a third country can be beneficial, but if China objects, Japan will not push this issue. ¶4. (C) Kitaoka acknowledged that he did not know what criteria the Chinese used to select their participants, but pointed out that Chinese academics do not enjoy freedom of speech. History has been used in China for millennia to legitimize new dynasties. The Chinese Communist Party has thought it significant that in a recent speech, President Hu Jintao for the first time recognized the positive role the Guomindang had played during World War II. This was a significant new historical position, he observed. ¶5. (C) The Chinese scholars chosen to participate in this project are in a difficult position, Kitaoka continued. Even though scholars will conduct the research, the project will still be sponsored by the government. The Chinese government may pressure Chinese participants to change their views to suit Chinese political goals, Kitaoka posited. Most of the scholars selected on the Chinese side are from Beijing. Most are also in their 50s which means they experienced the Cultural Revolution during their student years and had to work their way up the academic ladder in a difficult period. They tend to be more pro-Japan than younger academics, Kitaoka observed. Many have favorable impressions of Japan and want to improve bilateral relations. To the extent the leadership is willing to improve relations, things will go smoothly. If the Chinese leadership changed its position on Japan, however, these academics may have to change their stance on history, Kitaoka opined. ¶6. (C) Some Chinese scholars have criticized China's selection process, suggesting that academics primarily from Beijing institutions were chosen because they could be controlled more easily, Kitaoka remarked. In contrast, Japanese scholars were chosen from all over Japan, Kitaoka noted. ¶7. (C) The bilateral joint history research project panel held its first joint meeting in Beijing in December 2006. Each country selected a panel chairperson and ten additional scholars who will work together to research three historical periods: ancient/pre-modern (up to 1931),modern/war period (1931-1945),and contemporary (post-war). While the second period is most problematic, Japan succeeded in including the TOKYO 00000537 002.2 OF 002 contemporary period as well, during which Japan has played a constructive role in the region, Kitaoka explained. Most scholars specialize in and wanted to work on "modern history" rather than "pre-modern history." Some of the Chinese scholars focusing on the "pre-modern time frame are not experts in that field, which could be a potential weak point, he noted. ¶8. (C) The joint panel will meet next in mid-March in Tokyo, when it will select the specific topics to be dealt with by subgroups. It will meet again in December 2007 and a final time in June 2008, when it will present its conclusions, Kitaoka stated. The final session is timed just before the 30th anniversary of the normalization of relations and the Beijing Olympics in August 2008. The various subgroups will meet intersessionally, he noted. No one expects the two sides will come to a complete agreement on historical issues. Rather, the project aims to foster mutual understanding even if both sides ultimately "agree to disagree" on their interpretation of history. SCHIEFFER