Non-Subscriber Extract
Panda diplomacy belies continued Sino-Japanese disputes
07 May 2008
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China and Japan signed a landmark agreement on 7 May during a five-day visit to Tokyo by Chinese President Hu Jintao |
The agreement followed a pledge by Hu to loan Japan two giant pandas in a move reminiscent of the offer of two giant pandas to Lien Chan, honorary chairman of the then-opposition Kuomintang in Taiwan in an attempt to improve cross-strait ties with the party.
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However, the lack of substance in the agreement demonstrates that although bilateral relations are ostensibly improving, continued disagreement over a range of issues and mutual mistrust continues to define the relationship. With no substantial agreements between the two to resolve their various disputes, and continued mistrust over China's economic and military rise and Japan's possible future remilitarisation, there is a limit to the improvements possible in their relations. |