Agreement on gas fields not likely in time for Hu's visit

Visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi was not optimistic about China and Japan reaching an agreement on joint development of gas fields in the East China Sea in time for Chinese President Hu Jintao's visit to Japan starting May 6.

Yang Jiechi (MINAKO YOSHIMOTO/ THE ASAHI SHIMBUN)

"Japan and China have agreed to continue discussions," Yang told The Asahi Shimbun in an interview in Tokyo on Saturday. "We want to make efforts to reach a resolution that will be beneficial to both sides as soon as possible."

An agreement on joint development of gas fields in the East China Sea would have been a major achievement to mark the first visit to Japan in 10 years of a Chinese president.

Working-level officials from the two countries held 11 meetings on the issue between 2004 and last November.

A breakthrough appeared possible at vice ministerial talks in December after the Chinese military agreed in principle to allow joint development as long as it did not mean drawing territorial boundaries in the East China Sea, Chinese sources said.

However, that brief moment of optimism was dashed in February when Chinese diplomats began wavering on setting a deadline for resolving the issue of joint development.

Subsequently, diplomats from the two nations began saying that Hu's visit to Japan should not be linked to the gas field development issue.

Hu is said to have instructed diplomats at around that time not to rush into a deal through a compromise with Japan, according to Chinese sources.

One reason appears to be signs that the Cabinet of Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda was being pushed around by opposition parties on such issues as the naming of a new Bank of Japan governor and on road-related special taxes.

As one Chinese source said, Beijing felt "no need to help save face for Fukuda by making a politically risky decision during an important time before the Beijing Olympics."

In his interview Saturday, Yang also said Japanese and Chinese officials were working on a document that could be the fourth joint statement issued by the two countries to mark important diplomatic milestones.

"It will be beneficial to both sides to announce in an appropriate manner the common understanding that has been achieved through the visits of the highest leaders of the two countries," Yang said. "If a specific common understanding is reached, then an announcement can be made at that time."

Yang, meanwhile, reiterated earlier responses to questions about rioting in Tibet in March.

The Chinese foreign minister said the issue was a "domestic matter for China" and that "other nations should not interfere."

He blasted the Dalai Lama and his followers for conspiring with those seeking Tibetan independence to instigate unrest.

Yang also criticized the protests that have been aimed at the Olympic torch relay in parts of the world.

"Those seeking independence are interfering with the relay," Yang said. "However, no one can stop the Olympic spirit contained in the torch or the principles of peace and friendship."

He also said the criticism from foreign nations about China's handling of the issue was not representative of international opinion.

"Over two-thirds of the nations of the world support the fact that the Chinese government is maintaining social order in Tibet based on the law," Yang said.

In response to questions about tainted gyoza dumplings from China that sickened a number of Japanese earlier this year, Yang called for continued cooperation between Japanese and Chinese police authorities as well as discussions to create a cooperative mechanism for food safety.

The interview was the first given by Yang to a single Japanese media organization since he became foreign minister last year.(IHT/Asahi: April 21,2008)