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| In Speech Organized by Beijing, Ex-Diplomat Calls Islands Dispute With Japan a ‘Time Bomb’ | In Speech Organized by Beijing, Ex-Diplomat Calls Islands Dispute With Japan a ‘Time Bomb’ |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| HONG KONG — The United States created a “time bomb” between China and Japan by returning disputed islands to Japan instead of China in 1972, and there is now a danger of an explosion over the issue, a former senior longtime Chinese diplomat warned in a speech here on Tuesday. | HONG KONG — The United States created a “time bomb” between China and Japan by returning disputed islands to Japan instead of China in 1972, and there is now a danger of an explosion over the issue, a former senior longtime Chinese diplomat warned in a speech here on Tuesday. |
| The diplomat, Chen Jian, a former under secretary general of the United Nations and former Chinese ambassador to Japan, said the United States should restrain Japan and should help bring about negotiations between China and Japan over the islands, known as the Diaoyu by China and the Senkaku by Japan. | |
| Mr. Chen said that the United States was trying to use Japan against China and risked fanning a revival of Japanese militarism. | Mr. Chen said that the United States was trying to use Japan against China and risked fanning a revival of Japanese militarism. |
| “The U.S. is urging Japan to play a greater role in the region in security terms, not just in economic terms, which suits the purpose of the right wing in Japan more than perfectly — their long-held dream is now possible to be realized,” he said. | “The U.S. is urging Japan to play a greater role in the region in security terms, not just in economic terms, which suits the purpose of the right wing in Japan more than perfectly — their long-held dream is now possible to be realized,” he said. |
| Mr. Chen, whose speech was organized by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and who was accompanied by a half-dozen Chinese diplomats, also said discussions should start on ways to reduce the risk of clashes between Chinese and Japanese patrol vessels, which often come perilously close to each other in the waters off the islands. | Mr. Chen, whose speech was organized by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and who was accompanied by a half-dozen Chinese diplomats, also said discussions should start on ways to reduce the risk of clashes between Chinese and Japanese patrol vessels, which often come perilously close to each other in the waters off the islands. |
| Some in China see the issue of the islands “as a time bomb planted by the U.S. between China and Japan,” he said, later adding, “that time bomb is now exploding or about to explode.” | Some in China see the issue of the islands “as a time bomb planted by the U.S. between China and Japan,” he said, later adding, “that time bomb is now exploding or about to explode.” |
| The United States has said that in the event of conflict, the islands are covered by the mutual defense treaty between Washington and Tokyo, a position that Beijing has severely criticized since the dispute flared anew last month. | The United States has said that in the event of conflict, the islands are covered by the mutual defense treaty between Washington and Tokyo, a position that Beijing has severely criticized since the dispute flared anew last month. |
| “I would expect the U.S. would try to reduce tensions,” said Mr. Chen, who is now dean of the School of International Studies at Renmin University in Beijing. | “I would expect the U.S. would try to reduce tensions,” said Mr. Chen, who is now dean of the School of International Studies at Renmin University in Beijing. |
| Mr. Chen’s remarks, though from someone who has officially retired from the diplomatic service, are significant because they represent a detailed exposition of China’s views at a time when Chinese officials have been wary of public comments. The approach of the Communist Party Congress in Beijing on Nov. 8, which will usher in changes in China’s top leadership, together with the increased pressure from nationalists in China and Japan, have resulted in only fleeting talks between Japan and China over the islands. | Mr. Chen’s remarks, though from someone who has officially retired from the diplomatic service, are significant because they represent a detailed exposition of China’s views at a time when Chinese officials have been wary of public comments. The approach of the Communist Party Congress in Beijing on Nov. 8, which will usher in changes in China’s top leadership, together with the increased pressure from nationalists in China and Japan, have resulted in only fleeting talks between Japan and China over the islands. |
| Mr. Chen offered a lengthy list of fairly detailed suggestions and assurances for how China hopes to resolve tensions with its neighbors. “China does not seek to provoke incidents, and will not be the one to do so first,” he said. | Mr. Chen offered a lengthy list of fairly detailed suggestions and assurances for how China hopes to resolve tensions with its neighbors. “China does not seek to provoke incidents, and will not be the one to do so first,” he said. |
| He noted that China had only sent administrative vessels to the disputed islands, not warships from its navy. | He noted that China had only sent administrative vessels to the disputed islands, not warships from its navy. |
| Mr. Chen said it was unlikely that there would be major changes in Chinese foreign policy after the selection of a new leadership team at the party congress. “I think it’s going to be a smooth change, and the main tenets of our foreign policy will remain very much the same,” he said. | Mr. Chen said it was unlikely that there would be major changes in Chinese foreign policy after the selection of a new leadership team at the party congress. “I think it’s going to be a smooth change, and the main tenets of our foreign policy will remain very much the same,” he said. |
| Mr. Chen expressed particular concern about the risk of a collision or other clash between Chinese and Japanese patrol vessels near the disputed islands. He said it was “imperative” to have mutually agreed “mechanisms” to avoid confrontations. | Mr. Chen expressed particular concern about the risk of a collision or other clash between Chinese and Japanese patrol vessels near the disputed islands. He said it was “imperative” to have mutually agreed “mechanisms” to avoid confrontations. |
| Since 1972, when the United States returned the disputed islands to Japan, Japan has administered the islands. The Chinese say that in a verbal agreement between China and Japan, it was decided that the future sovereignty of the islands, which Japan won from China in the 1894-95 Sino-Japanese war, would be left for a future date. | Since 1972, when the United States returned the disputed islands to Japan, Japan has administered the islands. The Chinese say that in a verbal agreement between China and Japan, it was decided that the future sovereignty of the islands, which Japan won from China in the 1894-95 Sino-Japanese war, would be left for a future date. |
| The Obama administration has stated that it takes no position on the sovereignty of the islands, a position held by the United States since 1972. | The Obama administration has stated that it takes no position on the sovereignty of the islands, a position held by the United States since 1972. |
| The issue burst into the open last month when the Japanese government announced it was buying the islands from a private family who have owned the islands for several decades. China denounced the purchase as “nationalization” of the islands. Japan contends that the sale was just the purchase by one Japanese entity from another, and did not change the status of the islands. | The issue burst into the open last month when the Japanese government announced it was buying the islands from a private family who have owned the islands for several decades. China denounced the purchase as “nationalization” of the islands. Japan contends that the sale was just the purchase by one Japanese entity from another, and did not change the status of the islands. |
| Asked if China had a contingency plan in case of a collision of vessels, Mr. Chen said that he did not know. He said that it would be tough to be in China’s diplomatic service today because it was easy to be accused within China of being “soft” on Japan. | Asked if China had a contingency plan in case of a collision of vessels, Mr. Chen said that he did not know. He said that it would be tough to be in China’s diplomatic service today because it was easy to be accused within China of being “soft” on Japan. |
| Japan and China have had patrol vessels in close proximity to the islands and each other in recent days. The Japanese Coast Guard and China’s State Oceanic Administration each said in separate statements on Tuesday that their vessels had demanded that the other side’s vessels leave the area. | Japan and China have had patrol vessels in close proximity to the islands and each other in recent days. The Japanese Coast Guard and China’s State Oceanic Administration each said in separate statements on Tuesday that their vessels had demanded that the other side’s vessels leave the area. |
| Prime Minister Wen Jiabao of China and Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda of Japan are scheduled to attend a meeting in Laos next week, but Japanese news media reported on Tuesday that there were no plans for the men to hold a sit-down meeting to resolve differences, although they might have an informal meeting in a hallway. | Prime Minister Wen Jiabao of China and Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda of Japan are scheduled to attend a meeting in Laos next week, but Japanese news media reported on Tuesday that there were no plans for the men to hold a sit-down meeting to resolve differences, although they might have an informal meeting in a hallway. |