19/04/2005 12:06:43 pm
Why the Relations Between China and Japan are Deteriorating. At his blog - with a new design showing a very Timbro-like lighthouse - Carl Bildt writes about the real rasons behind the deteriorating relations between China and Japan:

"The overt reason is that new Japanese schoolbooks tend to gloss over war crimes committed by Japanese forces in China during the 1930?s. It?s only some books, used in some schools, but is nevertheless by China seen as a step back from the Japanese side.

The real reasons are probably more complicated. It is of course inconceivable that major street demonstrations or massive Internet campaigns can be organized in China without some sort of appropval - at the least - by the authorities.

It?s in all probability an attempt to motivate stopping Japan from getting a permanent set at the UN Security Council as a result of the reforms now being discussed.

But it?s a high-stake game. Playing the nationalist game is always possible, but it carries consequences."