Japan’s New PM, Abe Shinzo Heads For China

The Chinese Foreign Ministry announced that Japan’s new PM, Abe Shinzo, will be visiting China on October 8th and 9th…after the National Holidays and hopefully when everyone is still in a good mood.

Former Japan PM, Koizumi Junichiro, did his part to sour relations between the two countries by repeatedly visiting Yasukuni Shrine, which is said to honor Japan’s war dead.

Since 2001, the year of Koizumi’s first visit, the two countries have halted official exchange visits.

Chinese President Hu Jintao says the major sticking point between Japan and China was NOT the Chinese side or Japanese people but the insistence on Japanese leaders to visit the shrine.

Abe won the PM position by a landslide on September 20th but has refused to say whether he will cease to visit the Yasukuni Shrine.

He has said that he will follow the 1995 statement of then PM Murayama, who apologized and expressed remorse for Japan’s colonial rule and atrocities before and during the war."SINA

"Abe also says he accepts the results of the International Military Tribunal of the Far East that convicted 14 Japanese wartime leaders as war criminals."

My bet is that Japan and China will get along famously…until next August when Abe visits the Yasukuni Shrine…or doesn’t. And if he doesn’t it will be better business than usual.

What do you think?