HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK ---------------------------
from http://www.japantoday.com/ __________ China tells Japan's defense minister not to come Wednesday, April 24, 2002 at 09:30 JST TOKYO - Backing angry words with deeds, China Tuesday postponed a visit by Japan's defense minister to vent its ire after Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi visited a shrine where war criminals are honored along with war dead. The move could seriously damage relations between the two giant Asian neighbors in a year that marks the 30th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic ties. A Japanese Defense Ministry spokesman said China had conveyed a wish to postpone the visit of Defense Minister Gen Nakatani, scheduled to start Saturday. Beijing also delayed a visit to Japan by Chinese naval vessels set for May, the first such visit ever. "There is no mistake, they will both be postponed," the spokesman said. A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman confirmed the delay was linked to Koizumi's surprise Sunday visit to Yasukuni Shrine. "The Japanese leader's visit to Yasukuni has hurt the feelings of the Chinese people and harmed Sino-Japanese relations," he said. "China believes it is not appropriate to hold these two activities at this time." The timing and quiet nature of Koizumi's visit were aimed at preserving ties with countries such as China and soccer World Cup co-host South Korea, who object particularly strongly to visits on Aug 15, the anniversary of Japan's World War II defeat. Visits to the shrine, a traditional wooden building with curving cedar-tiled roofs, by Japanese leaders have in the past sparked furious protests from Asian neighbors who suffered under Japan's military aggression before and during World War II. (Reuters News) ____________________ Click the link below to view this article and related discussions on Japan Today http://www.japantoday.com/e/?content=news&id=212912 ____________________ ===== Lake Merritt Neighbors Organized for Peace. Weekly peace walks around Lake Merritt in Oakland. Starts & ends at the colonnade between Grand & Lakeshore Avenues, 3 P.M., every Sunday. Info: (510)763-8712, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> or http://www.webwm.com/LMNOP __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Games - play chess, backgammon, pool and more http://games.yahoo.com/ --------------------------- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: archive@jab.org EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.a9617B Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
