Chronologies
Japan - China
Chronology from Oct 2008 to Dec 2008
: Asahi Shimbun reports China will begin construction of two aircraft carriers in 2009 with completion date of 2015.
: China’s Defense Ministry spokesperson announces that China is seriously studying the construction of an aircraft carrier and related issues.
: Kyodo reports declassified Japanese diplomatic documents reveal that Prime Minister Sato had asked the U.S. in 1965 to use nuclear weapons against China in the event of a Japan-China war.
: Japan’s Ministry of Defense draft budget for 2009 reveals that defense spending will decline for seventh consecutive year and reach a 14-year low.
: Kirin Holdings announces that in 2007 Japan fell to seventh place in beer consumption. China remains number one for fifth consecutive year.
: PM Aso and Premier Hu meet in Dazaifu, Fukuoka at Japan-China-South Korea summit.
: Visiting Nationalist Party (KMT) chairman asserts Taiwan’s claim to Senkaku Islands during speech at Tokyo Foreign Correspondents Club.
: ASDF aircraft identify two Chinese maritime research ships operating in Senkaku Islands. The Foreign Ministry issues a protest.
: Foreign Ministry releases its public opinion poll on Japan’s foreign relations with results that point to downward trend in Japan for relations with China.
: Agreement is reached in talks in Taipei on compensation for June accident between Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force ship and Taiwan fishing boat near Senkaku Islands.
: PM Aso meets former Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing at the prime minister’s official residence.
: Japan cultural exhibition opens in Nanjing.
: PM Aso meets with President Hu on sidelines of APEC meeting in Lima, Peru. The 20 minute meeting focuses on global economic crisis.
: Chief Cabinet Secretary Kawamura announces Dec. 13 as the date for Japan-China-South Korea summit in Fukuoka.
: Japan’s Itochu Corp. announces plans to take 20 percent share in Chinese market-leading food processor Ting Hsin Group.
: Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post reports PLA will begin construction of aircraft carrier.
: PM Aso, appearing before Upper House Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, asserts civilian control over SDF is effectively functioning and labels Tamogami’s essay extremely inappropriate.
: Kanagawa Prefectural Police announce plans to question citizen suspected of brokering organ transplants for Japanese in China in violation of Japan’s organ transplant law.
: Taiwan’s legislature adopts resolution seeking apology and compensation from Japan for Taiwanese women forced into wartime sexual slavery.
: Gen. Tamogami appears before Upper House Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.
: Director General for Asian and Oceanian Affairs Saiki Akitaka meets Vice Minister Wu Dawei in Beijing to discuss verification protocols for Six-Party Talks.
: Gen. Tamogami is retired.
: China’s Foreign Ministry expresses shock and indignation over Tamogami’s views of history.
: China’s Foreign Ministry takes note of Tamogami firing.
: Japan announces intention to claim rights to continental shelf in the Pacific Ocean beyond current EEZ.
: ASDF Chief of Staff Gen. Tamogami is dismissed following publication of his award winning essay “Was Japan an Aggressor Nation?”
: Osaka Prefectural Governor Hashimoto attends Nanking symposium on the environment.
: Toyota Motors announces plan to build new factory in Changchun, Jilin Province.
: PM Aso, during interview on China Central Television, reaffirms government’s support for 1995 Murayama Statement.
: PM Aso meets President Hu and Premier Wen in Beijing during Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) summit. Afterward, he delivers speech marking 30th anniversary of Japan-China Treaty of Peace and Amity.
: PLA delegation visits Hiroshima and Atomic Bomb Museum.
: Japanese Defense Ministry reports ASDF identified four Chinese warships in international waters off Aomori Prefecture on Oct. 19.
: Japanese Embassy officials visit Chinese bean processing plant.
: 48-member Diet delegation visits Yasukuni Shrine, but no members of Aso Cabinet participate.
: Japan’s Ministry of Defense reports the sighting of a Chinese frigate in international waters off Nagasaki Prefecture.
: Tokyo Metropolitan Police report finding 1 millimeter hole in imported bean package that sickened the Hachioji housewife.
: Japanese Foreign Ministry requests China’s cooperation in addressing the contaminated beans issue.
: Japanese housewife in Tokyo suburb of Hachioji becomes ill after eating beans imported from China.
: Japan’s International Exchange Foundation hosts party celebrating establishment of the Japan Cultural Center in Beijing.
: Prime Minister Aso refuses to reply to questions regarding his intention to visit Yasukuni Shrine during autumn festival.
: Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture orders tightened inspection regime for pet food product imports from China.
: Osaka Municipal Government reports detection of melamine in chocolates imported from China.
: Prime Minster Aso Taro, during Diet interpolation, reaffirms his government’s support for 1995 Murayama Statement.
: Defense Ministry dismisses ASDF colonel for allegedly leaking information of a Chinese submarine accident in South China Sea to Yomiuri Shimbun.