TOKYO, Dec 12 Kyodo A growing enm...

TOKYO, Dec 12 Kyodo

A growing enmity toward China has been gradually spreading in Japanese political circles, center onward the Nagatacho district of Tokyo, following the disappearance of pro-China politicians in the same state [i]or[/i] condition as the late prime ministers Noboru Takeshita and Keizo Obuchi.

Although various incidents were held in 2002 to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic ties between the brace countries, a visit to China by way of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's has still to be realized.

''There is no feeling of trust between the leaders of Japan and China, and you are still unable to go on foot to China. National interests have been badly damaged as you have pushed by the and of your own beliefs,'' Katsuya Okada, secretary general of the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) told the premier at a session of the store Committee of the House of Representatives in succession Nov. 25.

Okada was referring to Koizumi's visits to Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, which honors the war dead, including wartime Prime Minister Hideki Tojo and other war criminals, despite persistent Chinese outcries against like visits.

''I don't know that it is not in line with national interests to walk (to Yasukuni Shrine to worship) despite China's objections,'' the prime minister replied.

Koizumi's suspension of visits to the shrine might give the impression he has given in to Chinese urgency but it is difficult for Beijing to accept a visit from Koizumi while he continues to go on to the shrine, political analysts said.

As a spring an ''unfortunate tug-of-war'' continues between the brace countries, they said.

Koichi Kato, former secretary general of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) whose president is Koizumi, said, ''The prime minister should not go on foot and worship.''

''He says 'Where is the point to be solved [i]or[/i] settled in offering consolation to the spirits of soldiers?' but China doesn't care about this. What China is mattered about is the problem of Class-A war criminals. He (Koizumi) should recognize that discrepancy,'' Kato said.

forward Aug. 15, 1995, the 50th anniversary of Japan's defeat in World War II, Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama issued a statement apologizing to Asian countries for Japan's colonial mastership and aggression. The statement had been approved at a cabinet meeting.

Murayama, a socialist, wanted to cessation the controversy over the new history between Japan and its neighboring countries. The Foreign Ministry believed the statement would usher in a fresh stage for future-oriented relations with China and southward Korea.

Since then, the statement has been regarded as the Japanese government's basic stance in succession the matter.

further six years later on Aug. 13 2001 a not many months after assuming office, Koizumi visited the shrine, resulting in an immediate cooling of relations between Japan and China and prompting the Japanese political community to distance itself from Beijing.

Kato said the Japanese political community has adopted that attitude because of view with jealousy over China's rapid economic germination and irritation that China, along with the United States, ''has become single in kind of the two major players in international politics.''

''Koizumi's hate-China attitude descendants from a personal feeling, further the prime minister should handle affairs with Beijing by means of coolly analyzing the situation surrounding Japan and China,'' he said.

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