Following the incident involving a Chinese submarine’s intrusion into Japanese waters, the Asahi Shimbun has written an editorial calling on Prime Minister Koizumi to meet with President Hu during the APEC meetings in Santiago, Chile: “If Japan is to expand its economic relationship with China in a stable manner, exchanges of views at summit talks are indispensable. Nations of Southeast Asia are watching intently how China-Japan cooperation will play out, including how they intend to forge an East Asian economic community. And with the North Korean nuclear threat hanging over Japan, communication with China is all the more vital for Japan in steering the direction of six-party talks. ” The paper reported earlier that plans were being made for a China-Japan summit, but that a final decision had not been made. The two leaders have not made a mutual visit in three years.
Meanwhile, because of pressure from the Chinese, APEC organizers have decided not to play a video promoting Taiwan, as it uses the term “nation,” according to Taiwan News.
