Chronologies
Japan - China
Chronology from Oct 2007 to Dec 2007
: PM Fukuda visits China and meets Premier Wen and President Hu on Dec. 29, travels to Taijin and Shandong Province on Dec. 29, and visits Confucius’ boyhood home in Qufu city on Dec. 30.
: Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura expresses doubts that East China Sea issue will be resolved before the Prime Minister’s visit to China.
: Ambassador Cui, speaking at National Press Club, offers hope for resolution of East China Sea dispute.
: Japan announces the introduction of competitive bidding contracts to deal with the disposal of chemical weapons abandoned by the Imperial Army in China.
: Japanese media report that PM Fukuda will visit China Dec. 27-30.
: Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party presidential candidate Hsieh Chang-ting visits Japan and in a Dec. 16 speech at his alma mater, Kyoto University, calls China a threat to regional security and seeks security assurances from Japan.
: Taiwan’s representative to Japan in speech delivered at the 52nd Wakayama dialogue calls for cooperation to deal with the threat posed by China.
: In conjunction with the 70th anniversary of Nanjing massacre, the Memorial Museum reopens in Nanjing after a two-year refurbishment.
: DPJ President Ozawa visits China and meets President Hu.
: Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura announces the formation of a Foreign Policy Study Council to advise the prime minister on his pending visit to China and the 2008 G8 Summit, which Japan will host at Lake Toya.
: PM Fukuda meets war-displaced Japanese and apologizes for suffering endured.
: Controversy emerges over the wording about valuation of the yuan in the document issued at conclusion of the High-Level Economic Dialogue.
: FM Koumura meets President Hu and urges China to take a political decision to resolve East China Sea dispute.
: DPJ President Ozawa meets Ambassador Cui to exchange views on North Korea. The ambassador reveals that Kim Jong-il has drastically reduced his alcohol consumption.
: FM Koumura leads a Cabinet delegation to Beijing for the first Japan-China High-Level Economic Dialogue. During the visit Koumura meets separately with Chinese FM Yang and State Councilor Tang to discuss the East China Sea dispute.
: Diet passes legislation providing benefits up to ¥146,000 per month to war-displaced Japanese nationals. In response, on Dec. 7 and Dec. 13, a total of 58 war displaced individuals drop suits seeking compensation for insufficient post-war support.
: PLA Navy destroyer arrives in Japan, marking first-ever visit of PLA warship to Japan and first step in agreed to reciprocal port call visits.
: Dalai Lama meets Secretary General of the DPJ Hatoyama.
: Taiwan’s presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou visits Japan and meets political and government officials.
: PM Fukuda meets Premier Wen in Singapore on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit meeting. They also meet South Korea’s President Roh Moo-hyun.
: Dalian authorities refuse customs clearance and ask for explanation from JAL for in-flight magazines sent to airlines’ Dalian office in which the words “Senkaku Islands” appear. A week later, following an appeal by Japanese consul, the incident is resolved and customs clearance is approved.
: Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura meets Ambassador Cui and conveys the intent to resolve the East China Sea issue before PM Fukuda visits China
: PM Fukuda visits Washington, D.C. and meets with President Bush.
: Dalai Lama arrives in Japan for 10-day visit.
: Source reports that former Chinese embassy official has been sentenced to death for disclosing military intelligence to Japanese officials.
: Chinese and Japanese diplomats meet in Tokyo at director general-level in an effort to resolve East China Sea dispute without success.
: FM Koumura expresses hope for substantive progress in talks on East China Sea.
: Chinese Ambassador Cui presents credentials to emperor and emphasizes his commitment to building bonds of mutual trust and confidence as foundation of strategic reciprocal relationship.
: Japan and Taiwan reach a new air agreement, allowing ANA and JAL to fly directly to Taiwan rather than using subsidiary corporations and providing new routes to Japan for Taiwan’s China Airlines.
: Chinese activists who enter Japanese waters in area of Senkaku Islands are warned off by Japanese Coast Guard ships. Upon return to China, the activists are detained and freed on Oct. 31 after pledging not to return to the Senkaku Islands.
: Shenyang Court rejects the appeal of death sentence from Japanese national convicted of drug trafficking.
: Supra-party delegation of 67 parliamentarians visits Yasukuni Shrine during the Autumn Festival.
: Japanese national is arrested in Shenyang in connection with illegal brokering of organ transplants.
: Chinese Communist Party National Party Congress meets in Beijing.
: Director General for Asian and Oceanic Affairs Sasae meets the LDP committee on maritime issues and communicates unofficial hints from the Chinese of possible progress on the joint development of East China Sea.
: DPJ President Ozawa meets with the Chinese ambassador and reveals plans to visit China, Dec. 6-9.
: FM Koumura meets new Chinese Ambassador to Japan Cui Tiankai and calls on China to make political decision to resolve East China Sea dispute.
: President of Japan’s War Bereaved Families calls for dis-enshrinement of Japanese Class-A war criminals from Yasukuni Shrine to allow all Japanese, including the emperor, to pay homage at the shrine.
: FM Koumura calls for the early resolution of the East China Sea issue to facilitate an early visit to China by PM Fukuda.